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Critical Analysis: Short Summary: The Parable Of Sadhu

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I. Overview The “Parable of Sadhu” revolves around group of people, with different nationalities, who dream to reach the top of Himalayas. As they were on their climbing expedition, they found a Sadhu; shivering and suffering from hypothermia, almost near death. From that point on, the mountaineers face complex situation for which an immediate action was necessary. To show humanity, all the mountaineers from each ethnic group helped the Sadhu by offering food and drink and some warm clothes to cover him up but no one was ready to take full responsibility of Indian holy man. As all the mountaineers had a goal set to reach the top of the Himalayas, they left the Sadhu at 15,000 feet point and moved on with their expedition, instead of carrying him to the village so that others would be able to help him. The decision taken by the mountaineers involves ethics and also clearly shows how people think of themselves specifically when it comes …show more content…

For consequentialists the outcome of an act is more important than the motives of it. Utilitarianism is a part of consequentialism. Utilitarianism believes in the maximum benefit for the maximum number of people, where the end is focuses rather than means. This method along with ethical egoism was probably the one that was used subconsciously by the mountaineers. To leave the Sadhu behind was fine for all the mountaineers as in the end the benefit is greater for all the people as they would have reached their goal and all of them would be happy. Ethical Egoist, who believes that the maximum benefit is their own, would have done the same, satisfying their desires before helping someone else. Even though the decision by the ethical egoist makes one happy, it is not the best way to take decision in the Sadhu situation as McCoy still feels guilty about this incident. Therefore, this method did not produce the most ethical

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