[Buddha-l] Ethical Dilemmas

[Dan Lusthaus]

Barnaby,

You are confusing entertaining hypotheticals, on the one hand, with 
articulating and establishing sound ethical principles, on the other.

This discussion started with a hypothetical -- which in its construction was 
flawed and weighted.

HHDL's answer is simply the prudent refusal to enter a loaded hypothetical, 
since whatever he says would not be taken as speculation of the moment, but 
as principles to live by by at least some of the eventual audience.

The telling part of his response is that he left his options open, knowing 
full well what sort of position others would expect him to take and defend. 
That should already tell you quite a bit.

Dan