The Corner

Egyptian Ship Disaster

By John Derbyshire

About John Derbyshire

February 3, 2006 7:09 PM

Somewhere in my dim addled memory banks is a recollection of an essay by, I am pretty sure, J.S. Mill, on the calculus of caring. Something like: If I could have saved that shipload of Egyptians by walking across the room, would I have done it? Of course. How about by chopping off a finger? Er, which finger?… etc. If anyone knows the piece I’m thinking of, please let me know.

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