Moral responsibility and the actions of others

Well, I disagree with Steve's latest post.

What's the difference between being the guy who tosses the live baby chicks into the grinder vs. paying someone else to do it for you?

This is a straw man, unless he's referring to the owner of the hen-chicks company. Other people, when they buy eggs, they just want eggs, they don't want anybody torturing anybody.

In the same way, when I buy soy, I don't ask anybody to

• steal the soy,
• murder someone to steal his soy,
• exploit animals in the soy production,
• put poison in the soy,
• use slave labor in the soy production,
• etc.

The moral responsibility for these actions relies first and foremost with the people acting in immoral or unjust ways. Now sure, it's debatable what part of responsibility a buyer has if he is aware of such practices. But still, the buyer has no duty to go double-checking everything and getting the information.

More interesting is the question whether the product can be produced ethically?

Unless we buy the eggs from the hens, I'd have to say no.

2009-09-05