Read on Twitter
Tweets around this photo of Primrose Hill are trending, and so is a debate in this form:
: This is terrible! Sunbathing is not exercise & this people should stay home.
: I donât see the problem! They are 2m apart.
Whoâs right?
Letâs see.
1/9
: This is terrible! Sunbathing is not exercise & this people should stay home. : I donât see the problem! They are 2m apart. Whoâs right?Letâs see.
1/9
Both parties claim government guidelines are on their side.
:
Gg allow for exercise and necessary outings.
: Sunbathing is not exercise nor necessary.
:: People in photo are behaving recklessly.
2/9
:Gg allow for exercise and necessary outings.
: Sunbathing is not exercise nor necessary.
:: People in photo are behaving recklessly.
2/9
:Gg require to stay 2meters apart, unless people live in the same house, and are meant to reduce contagion.
: People in photos are 2meters apart or likely to live together.
:: Contagion between strangers seems unlikely.
::: People in photos are behaving responsibly.
3/9
[Of course is taking a more collectivist approach, more libertarian, but letâs put that aside for a minute.]
4/9
is taking a more collectivist approach, more libertarian, but letâs put that aside for a minute.]4/9
The hidden assumption that really matters here is
~ The categorical imperative ~
âAct only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal lawâ.
[Kant, yâall]
That is:
~ Behave as you wish everyone else to behave ~
5/9
~ The categorical imperative ~
âAct only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal lawâ.
[Kant, yâall]
That is:
~ Behave as you wish everyone else to behave ~
5/9
is Kantian, is not.A pandemic has to be handled in a kantian way, because if everyone thought it was ok to sunbathe, it would be impossible to keep a distance from strangers.
Sunbathers are occupying a space for long periods, preventing others from walking.
6/9
: But Elena! thatâs true of everything. If we all went taking out cash at the same time, the banking system would collapse! Think of 2007. The point is: we donât. Iâm getting my sunblock out!
Not so fast.7/9
This is not about everyone ACTUALLY getting out at the same time and going to the park. Thatâs unlikely to happen anyway.
Itâs about adopting a behaviour (*occasionally* sunbathing, if at different times/places) that makes it impossible for everyone to do the same.
8/9
Itâs about adopting a behaviour (*occasionally* sunbathing, if at different times/places) that makes it impossible for everyone to do the same.
8/9
If we all *occasionally* sunbathed, crowded parks would make it impossible to prevent contagion. And thatâs why you shouldnât do it.
Sunbathing is greedy: youâre taking up time & space outside that others could use to exercise.
One of these is necessary, the other isnât.
9/9
Sunbathing is greedy: youâre taking up time & space outside that others could use to exercise.
One of these is necessary, the other isnât.
9/9
