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Question: Why does social capital and intelligence always matter until it comes down to real life and death!?
It's strange to me how when people face situations where hypothetically you have to save one person over another, if there's two men and one has autism or something and the other is a nobel prize winning laureate, morality dictates that both men are equal and maybe even the one with autism should be saved over the smart guy!. What do you make of this and what is your own personal ethical code when it comes to valuing human life!? And doesn't this then play a role in how we view animals!? What if a bonobo chimp had a higher IQ than a human, would that make that primate more valuable!? Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Saint Paul notes that each person's "star" or "treasures in heaven" differs, per their election/interests!.

On the other hand, all are equally loved by God!.

The human value for the first is "social capital/intelligence good!."
The human value for the second is "everyone deserves equal treatment!."

So, when social capital comes to shove, the Nobel prize winner kicks Grandma or Grandpa off the boat!. That's "situation ethics," which is a fancy name for privileging "social capital!." "What's in it for me!?" clearly finds most people rationalzing that a doctor, a person able to gather herbs and hunt game, and a carpenter will always trump a trial lawyer, a card dealer at Vegas, and a used car salesperson, in some kind of survival island reality show scenario!.

If a bonobo had the IQ of Einstein and the leadership skills of General Patton, she'd likely be voted queen of the island, for example!.

So, one answer to your question is: social capital always trumps equality, both in "real life" and in "real life on the island!."

Jesus' message was that "You are loved," and this did not sit well with the leaders, who were seeking a leader who would rule the roost, always be an exclusively social capital kind of guy!.

"Expecting Adam," Martha Beck,
"The Great Divorce," C!. S!. Lewis, and
"Soul Traveler," Albert Taylor, explore this in their own ways; all are good books (reviews at http://www!.amazon!.com )Www@QuestionHome@Com

You've answered your question already with the terms of your question!. As long as we live what matters is other people but the coordination of social capital and intelligence is problematic (unless what you mean is social intelligence)!. For in real life situations, especially in extremis, intelligence matters and social capital can come down to so much glitz!.Www@QuestionHome@Com