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Any citizen, with the help of the organ banks, can live as long as it takes his central nervous system to wear out. This can be a very long time if his circulatory system is kept functioning. ... But the citizen, cannot take more out of the organ banks than goes into them. He must do his utmost to see that they are supplied. ... The only feasible method of supplying the organ banks is through execution of criminals. ... A criminal's pirated body can save a dozen lives. There is now no valid argument against capital punishment for any given crime; for all such argument seeks to prove that killing a man does society no good. Hence the citizen, who wants to live as long and as healthily as possible, will vote any crime into a capital crime if the organ banks are short of material. ... Cite Earth's capital punishment for false advertising, income tax evasion, air pollution, having children without a license. The wonder was that it had taken so long to pass these laws.

Larry Niven#15

SurvivalEthicsPunishment

About this quote

What does it mean?
A dystopian view where organ banks save lives by executing criminals, arguing for capital punishment for minor crimes.
In plain terms
If organs are banked from executed criminals, any crime could be a capital crime.
What can you take from it?
Survival needs can distort moral arguments on punishment.

Where it applies

  • bioethics debates
  • policy discussions

Putting it to work

  • analyze survival ethics
  • critique utilitarian logic

Questions to consider

  • When is it acceptable to sacrifice rights for survival?
  • Does survival justify extreme measures?

Another view

The logic is extreme and hypothetical.

More from Larry Niven

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  3. 'You look like a girl with a secret,' Matt said. 'I think it must be the smile.' She moved closer to him, which was very close, and lowered her voice. 'Can you…

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