24

Waaahhhhh! How does this guy survive? How does he do it? Jack Bauer is crazy!

My wife and I just watched 2 hrs of the current "24" season... #7, I believe. Missed the first few episodes, but man, does it pull you in quickly! On the edge of my seat the whole time. So was Ash. Caleb just sat in our laps and looked at us. The shooting and explosions didn't phase him.

This last episode (3pm to 4pm) Jack made an interesting comment: something along the lines of not just doing what's right, but doing what's necessary. The idea of figuring out the rightness or wrongness of an action later, dealing with the consequences later. I suppose an argument could be made for that philosophy in acute crisis-type decisions (like where the president's life is on the line, or in this case, the "first gentleman"), but as an overall philosophy, probably not the best ideology.

In reality, though, that notion has been gaining popularity. For the past few decades, our society has increasingly rejected the idea of absolute truth, or an objectively correct way to act. Relativism is the philosophy of the day. Thus the rightness or wrongness of an action or behavior only depends on the one doing that action. If they deem it necessary, then it is acceptable, with the general caveat that it not infringe on the "rights" or "freedoms" of someone else, or perhaps that there is a greater net happiness in the world due to that action - utilitarianism. Thus Jack Bauer can threaten and torture and kill, and justify himself because his immoral methods help save lives. That's a tricky one. And the worst part is, we're cheering him on.

I think Jack Bauer might need to rethink his ethics in the long term. Meanwhile, he's dealing with a national threat. Tune in next week...