| There was no obligation to me, just an opportunity to help. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you," is a good secular rule as well as religious. I believe we'd be better off as a society if more people simply helped, as best they can, when the situation presents itself. But you're not obligated to help, in my view, or especially not to seek out opportunities to help. I suppose I just don't see it as an imposed obligation, but a chance for charity, even a little bit. As far as morality goes: Theological: Failure to help is a sin of omission, as it violates the Golden Rule. (Christian version, but there are many other examples in the major religions.) Political: Locking someone up with other criminals creates a greater cost to society than psychiatric treatment. Secular: Unreciprocated generosity relieves suffering. It can also lead to an improvement in reputation. We could discuss each moral foundation in detail, from St. Augustine to Singer if you'd like. As for my personal experience with mental illness: I was able to convinve my cousin, who was in full blown psychosis, to get to a hospital (way harder than it sounds.) I spent most of my childhood helping to care for my uncle, both physically and mentally disabled. Also, I do volunteer work regularly for the homeless, many if not most of whom are mentally ill, in my home city of Washington. |