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Comment by htss2013 | Hacker News Reader

htss2013

My furnace broke after 15 years. I called a business to fix it. They replaced the dead pump motor and it worked again. The repair guy was paid well and I was happy to pay. What exactly is inherently unethical about this?

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How about the cost of producing and shipping the new motor pump, and the cost of disposing of the old one?

And do you think the individuals who made the motor pump are treated and compensated fairly, or are they likely exploited in third-world dystopia to bring you (but mostly the business) cost savings?

And this is saying nothing of the actual use of the furnace and all the energy it requires.

And I have yet to see ONE example of a business which does not exploit someone or something, only cognitive dissonance.

So any lack of ethics in the supply chain (which presumably goes back to raw materials) means the entire thing is unethical? I am not sure what definition of ethics this is, but it is so strict as to render everyone and everything unethical, so perhaps not a very useful definition.

If you honestly believe the product is separate from the production and supply chains, you are either woefully misinformed or under the disillusionment of modern capitalist economics.

I didn’t say the product was separate; I merely asked whether you view everything as tainted if its supply chain has any unethical component. Sounds like you do!

Only a fool would think the part to be separate from the whole.

What a load of rubbish... Your entire argument hinges on what you consider 'fair compensation' and your value judgement about energy cost. Guess what--living your life and using resources is not unethical

If it is rubbish, how come you cannot offer a counter-argument, or even an example of an ethical business, as I have asked for?

You don't get to make up your own definition of "ethical".

What will stop me, or anyone for that matter?

Nothing will "stop you"

Nothing will make other people accept your incongruous and intellectually dishonest definition, either.

What is incongruous or dishonest about it? You have provided no counter-argument, no alternative theory, only petulance at my recognition of the facts of your sad life.

Your comment was disgusting. There’s no counter argument needed.

> How about the cost of producing and shipping the new motor pump, and the cost of disposing of the old one?

How about ensuring that other human beings don't freeze to death?

That is precisely my point though. Just to exist in this world is to have a negative impact on other humans, animals and the environment. The effect is magnified when you live outside of humans' ecological tropical niche as well. While I'm not judging or condemning humanity, I believe it is important to recognize it for what it is.

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