, SUS1501
ASSIGNMENT 6 SEMESTER 2
2026
DUE 5 SEPTEMBER 2026
Step 1: Initial Post
My Original Answer and Why
When I first encountered this question in the crossroads assessment, my immediate choice was
Option E: "We must save the blue whale because it is the right thing to do." My reasoning at the
time was rooted in a sense of moral obligation that I felt transcended purely practical or economic
considerations. To me, the blue whale is not just a biological entity; it is an icon of the natural world,
a symbol of the immense, untamed beauty of our planet. The idea of this magnificent creature
ceasing to exist, primarily due to human actions, struck me as a profound moral failure. I believed
that our responsibility to protect other forms of life, especially those we have the power to drive to
extinction, is a fundamental ethical principle. It felt like the ultimate test of our character as a
species. While I understood that some might argue for its protection based on its role in the
ecosystem (Option D) or its economic value (Option B), these arguments felt too transactional.
They seemed to reduce the whale's value to its instrumental value—its usefulness to us. In my view,
a life as complex and awe-inspiring as a blue whale's possesses an inherent worth that exists
independently of human needs or desires. This is the concept of intrinsic value—the idea that
something has value in and of itself, simply because it exists (O'Neill, 1992). I felt Option E was the
only one that adequately recognized this inherent worth, making its preservation a non-negotiable
moral imperative. The other options, especially "Why?" and "We have bigger problems," felt
dismissive of this fundamental ethical duty.
My Current Answer and Why
After more reflection, my current answer has shifted to Option D: "We must save blue whale
because their survival is critical for sustaining healthy ocean ecosystems." While I haven't
abandoned the ethical conviction that underpinned my original choice, I have come to appreciate a
more holistic and pragmatic approach to conservation that integrates both intrinsic and
instrumental value. My initial position, while morally sound, felt somewhat abstract and
disconnected from the practicalities of real-world policy and public engagement. Option D,
however, grounds the moral argument in a scientifically demonstrable reality. It focuses on the
blue whale's immense instrumental value as a keystone species.
ASSIGNMENT 6 SEMESTER 2
2026
DUE 5 SEPTEMBER 2026
Step 1: Initial Post
My Original Answer and Why
When I first encountered this question in the crossroads assessment, my immediate choice was
Option E: "We must save the blue whale because it is the right thing to do." My reasoning at the
time was rooted in a sense of moral obligation that I felt transcended purely practical or economic
considerations. To me, the blue whale is not just a biological entity; it is an icon of the natural world,
a symbol of the immense, untamed beauty of our planet. The idea of this magnificent creature
ceasing to exist, primarily due to human actions, struck me as a profound moral failure. I believed
that our responsibility to protect other forms of life, especially those we have the power to drive to
extinction, is a fundamental ethical principle. It felt like the ultimate test of our character as a
species. While I understood that some might argue for its protection based on its role in the
ecosystem (Option D) or its economic value (Option B), these arguments felt too transactional.
They seemed to reduce the whale's value to its instrumental value—its usefulness to us. In my view,
a life as complex and awe-inspiring as a blue whale's possesses an inherent worth that exists
independently of human needs or desires. This is the concept of intrinsic value—the idea that
something has value in and of itself, simply because it exists (O'Neill, 1992). I felt Option E was the
only one that adequately recognized this inherent worth, making its preservation a non-negotiable
moral imperative. The other options, especially "Why?" and "We have bigger problems," felt
dismissive of this fundamental ethical duty.
My Current Answer and Why
After more reflection, my current answer has shifted to Option D: "We must save blue whale
because their survival is critical for sustaining healthy ocean ecosystems." While I haven't
abandoned the ethical conviction that underpinned my original choice, I have come to appreciate a
more holistic and pragmatic approach to conservation that integrates both intrinsic and
instrumental value. My initial position, while morally sound, felt somewhat abstract and
disconnected from the practicalities of real-world policy and public engagement. Option D,
however, grounds the moral argument in a scientifically demonstrable reality. It focuses on the
blue whale's immense instrumental value as a keystone species.
