Although people are apt to show humanity in most cases, there are situations when only a single choice can be made. Choosing three people who are most worthy to live on the planet and contribute to the further development of the mankind, one has to utilize only the most reasonable and logical approach including economical and political considerations. Thus, it will be possible to suggest that, despite the complexity of the situation, the correct actions still can be carried out.
Since it is necessary that the population of the mankind did not expand, due to the lack of supplies, it is undesirable that the pregnant woman were in the bunker. However violent and outrageous that might sound, the more people will be born, the less the survivors are going to live.
The spouse of hippies is also highly likely to contribute to the population growth, which means that they must be left outside the bunker. In addition, they cannot contribute to the group of survivors much – or, at least, more than the scientists, for example.
An army officer is also quite an undesirable choice for the life in bunker, since he possesses certain mental instability. In spite if the fact that he can prove useful for the new colony, the harm which he can bring seized by another fit can wipe off the rest of the survivors. This means that the officer cannot stay with the survivors either.
From the political point of view, the new group requires a leader who can tackle the most conflicting situations which will inevitably arise, and divide the remaining of the supplies between the people.
It seems that the lawyer is one of those people who are going to join the survivors – he has enough experience in tackling the most complicated political issues to control two more people. As Sutton (2001) mentioned, “modern societies consciously seek to use law as a means for achieving important public policy goals” (133).Thus, the lawyer will stay in the bunker as a part of the new community.
Taking into account the economical point of view, it will be necessary for the new society to split into those engaged with the political and economical issues and those who will be busy with rough work. Consequently, the new society will need the person of considerable physical strength and the ability to handle all sorts of physical labor.
Choosing among the candidates for this position, it is most reasonable to pick the welfare recipient. Although he might be not as bright as the rest of the people, he will be able to provide the people in the bunker with the necessary physical help.
Although the elderly woman in the list is as worth sympathy as the rest of the people, she can hardly be one of the survivors. Since these people are trapped in the world completely different from the modern civilization, there are no moral standards which can be applied to the situation, and it is only the common sense that must guide the judge. Since the elderly woman can hardly contribute to the development of the colony, she cannot be accepted either.
However sad this might sound, the same goes with the disabled person. Being of no use for the colony, he would rather become a burden which the people will not be able to carry.
The priest might play the part of a peacemaker in cases of conflicts and sustain the faith in the survivors’ hearts, yet choosing between the priest and the doctor, it would be more reasonable to pick the latter. Being able to cure the rest of the colony members, he will be of great help for the people.
The last representatives of the mankind on the Earth, they will be able to live the remaining of their life decently – or at least they have all chances to.
Reference List
Sutton, J. (2001) Law/Society: Origins, Interactions, and Change. Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge Press