THOUGHT EXPERIMENTS IN PUBS

BATTERSEA

CHARITY

1 A MILLION

Your postman comments on the golden envelope as he delivers it.

“That’s flashy! Looks like an expensive wedding invitation.”

You smile and take it from him.

You boil the kettle, brew a cup of tea, and sit down to read the letter.

It says:

“Dear [YOUR NAME],

I’m sorry to write out of the blue like this. And I’m sorry that we’ve never met. We are distant relations. Fourth cousins twice removed. I have attached a family tree so that you can make sense of the connection.

Sadly, my days on this planet are numbered. I have some unfinished business, which I’d like your help with if you’re willing.

I have donated almost all of my money to charity, but I have 1 million left and I don’t feel capable of deciding where to give it.

I can transfer the money to a family member, but I don’t trust any of my known family members with this responsibility. They’ve all proven themselves to be fairly selfish and foolish. I’d rather trust a stranger. So I’m asking you because I don’t know you.

If you accept, you will become a trustee of a charitable trust worth 1 million pounds. You can donate the money anywhere so long as you don’t personally benefit from it. The other trustee is my lawyer, Graham, who will make sure the trust fulfills its legal obligations, but will otherwise follow your lead.

I hope you will accept. Please let me know by return mail.

Many thanks,

Basil”

That evening, you go to your regular run club. You discuss the letter with your fellow runners. They give conflicting advice:

Mick says:

“What do you care about? Maybe you could make a list of the top causes you care about and then find charities that do good in those areas.”

Shaima says:

“If you want to do the most good, you’ll forget your personal preferences and donate it all to a big charity that has a proven track record for measurable results for the most vulnerable people in the world. Something like a charity that buys malaria nets for children. That way you get the most bang for your buck. You know you are doing good and saving lives. Nothing is wasted and your donation is not subjective.”

Ewan says:

“Those big charities get loads of money every year from people like Bill Gates. I’d focus on smaller, grassroots charities. Find people who are doing good in their local communities and give small amounts to them. That way you’ll have a pivotal effect in lots of places. Some people might waste the money, but others won’t. By spreading it out, you’re most likely to have an impact somewhere. And other people will get inspired to start their own charities if they know small amounts of funding are available to support them.”

Elaine says:

“If you want to be super safe, you could only donate to charities that you know personally and know are having an impact. For example: this run club is raising money for a new outreach programme. You could support that and then hold it accountable.”

Lily says:

“I wouldn’t accept the responsibility. Its a big responsibility and I don’t feel qualified to decide. If I had to, I’d do what Shaima said and give it all to something with proven outcomes.”

Ewan adds:

“Most measurable doesn’t necessarily mean most good.”

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

Would you accept responsibility for this million pounds?
If yes, how would you donate the money?
If no, why not?
What do you think of the distant relative’s rationale in giving you this responsibility?
What do you think of the runners’ opinions? Do any of them resonate with you in particular?
Why do you think people have such different opinions about charitable donations?
What do you think of Ewan’s final remark: “Most measurable doesn’t necessarily mean most good.”

SOURCE: BA, THOUGHT EXPERIMENTS IN PUBS Group Member

2 THREE GRACES

Alana visits the V&A with her girlfriend, Victoria. They’ve only been girlfriends for 4 days.

Victoria asked Alana to be her girlfriend at Pizza Express on Tuesday.

Alana has been walking on air ever since.

She’s been in love with Victoria for over a year and she’s thrilled that Victoria feels the same way and is ready to commit.

Alana was trying to play it cool, but the uncertainty had been making her a little anxious. She is so relieved that their relationship is now ‘official’.

To celebrate this milestone, Alana has planned a date to the V&A on Saturday. The V&A is one of Alana’s favourite places, especially the courtyard. It always feels romantic to her.

Alana packed a flask of tea and they sat in the courtyard, watching pigeons sipping from the shallow pool, noticing the way the water distorts.

Suddenly, Victoria took her notebook out, saying:

“I’ve had an idea! I’ve got to write it down. The Muses are fickle, it might vanish as soon as it appears.”

She jots down a few sentences and does a little sketch of the courtyard.

Alana waits patiently. She loves seeing Victoria inspired, but she also feels a little neglected. This was supposed to be their date, not a time for work. But she understands Victoria’s relationship to ‘The Muses’.

It gets a little cold in the courtyard, so Alana and Victoria decide to wander through one of the galleries. It is full of impressive marble sculptures.

They overhear a tour guide explaining a sculpture of three nude women.

“This is one of the most famous sculptures in the gallery. It is a 19th-century neoclassical sculpture by Antonio Canova of three goddesses from ancient mythology. The Romans called them The Graces, the Greeks called them The Charities. They were often depicted alongside The Muses, who are much more widely known.

The Muses inspire creativity in the arts and sciences. But they are also often fickle and sometimes cruel.

The Graces or The Charities are personifications of beauty, grace and charm. They make life and art enjoyable. Unlike The Muses, The Charities are always benevolent.”

Victoria and Alana wander on, both thinking about the tourguide’s words.

One year later, Victoria and Alana’s lives have changed significantly:

They are married.
Victoria has had great success with her writing and artwork.
Alana is pregnant and excited about their growing family.

However, despite all of the happiness in their lives, Alana feels a slight sense of trepidation. Victoria is clearly committed to their relationship, but Alana still feels she comes in second place to ‘The Muses’, the source of Victoria’s creative inspiration, especially now that Victoria is a successful artist and writer. She worries that their baby will also come after ‘The Muses’.

Five years later, Victoria takes Alana out to celebrate their anniversary. She gives Alana a ring. Alana is surprised, she already has an engagement ring and a wedding ring. Victoria tells her that this is the most special ring. It has a short phrase engraved on it, which reads: “You are my grace.”

Alana asks Victoria:

“What does this mean?”

Victoria says:

“You remember that first day you were my girlfriend and we went to the V&A? We stopped and looked at that statue.”

Alana:

“Of course. I remember it well.”

Victoria:

“Well, I looked them up, The Graces. They’ve stuck in my head. I think while I’m surrounded by Muses, you’re surrounded by Graces. I think you actually are a Grace, a personification of beauty, charm, and benevolence. And you’ve shared that with me.

Recently, I’ve been feeling more and more that The Graces are more important than The Muses. I’d rather have the warmth and love of our little family than all the artistic inspiration and success.”

Alana smiles. She hugs Victoria and says:

“I’m so glad you feel that way, but be careful, you shouldn’t insult The Muses.”

Over the following year, Victoria makes art and writes about her family.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

What do you think of the juxtaposition of The Graces/Charities and The Muses?
Would you rather be surrounded by The Graces or The Muses?
Which serves a more important role in human society?
Why do you think the ancient Greeks and Romans had a distinct trio of goddesses to represent beauty, grace, and charm?
Why do you think the Greeks called these goddesses ‘The Charities’?
Do you think Victoria’s new artistic phase, inspired by The Charities, will be as successful as her former phase, inspired by The Muses?

SOURCES:

Thought Experiment - BA, THOUGHT EXPERIMENTS IN PUBS Group Member

Image - https://www.vandaimages.com/

3 CHARITABLE

Kiran is talking to his therapist about his wife.

“Mia was unbelievably awkward at the dinner party last night. It was typical. She was quiet almost the whole way through and then, right at the end, she brought up an anecdote that nobody could really make sense of.

On the train home, she seemed really downcast and worried. She asked me if she’d been awkward at dinner.

I told her that she wasn’t awkward.

I reassured her.”

Kiran stops talking.

His therapist says:

“That was very charitable of you.”

Kiran waits, but the therapist doesn’t say anything else. He’s not sure how to interpret her comment.

Kiran asks:

“Do you think I should have said she was awkward instead of being charitable?”

The therapist says:

“What do you think?”

Kiran says:

“Well, I was trying to be comforting because she was stressed out. I think that’s good.

But I wasn’t being honest. She was very awkward.

I don’t know which is more important, telling the truth or being kind. What do you think?”

Therapist:

“It doesn’t really matter what I think, it’s more about how you feel about it. Which do you think is most important? Honesty or kindness?”

Kiran isn’t sure. He leaves the session feeling a little unsettled.

He meets you, his friend, for tea, and describes what happened in therapy.

He asks you what you think about it.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

Is it good to be “charitable”?
The therapist asks Kiran which he thinks is more important, honesty or kindness. What do you think?
Do you agree with the therapist that in this scenario, it is up to Kiran, or do you think there is a morally objective answer to the question?
Is being “charitable” always dishonest?
What do you think of Kiran’s therapist?

SOURCE: BA, THOUGHT EXPERIMENTS IN PUBS Group Member