Ursula Kroeber Le Guin; (1929 – 2018) was an American author. She is best known for her works of speculative fiction. She wrote the short story “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas”, which Stranger brought to our attention. It fits perfectly in our current theme.
In this story, Le Guin describes a seemingly perfect city, Omelas, where everyone is joyful, intelligent, and free. There is no war, no poverty, no crime.
However, this utopia comes at a terrible cost: a single child is kept in filth, darkness, and misery, imprisoned and abused, and everyone in Omelas knows that their happiness depends on this child’s continued suffering.
Most people eventually accept this moral bargain. But some cannot. These are “the ones who walk away from Omelas.” They leave the city silently and alone, their destination unknown.
The most obvious issue in the sotry is utilitarianism, it argues that actions are morally right if they lead to the greatest happiness for the greatest number. Omelas operates on a utilitarian logic. The happiness of many is sustained by the misery of one.
This leaves us with some serious questions. Can true happiness exist if it relies on the suffering of others and does the greatest good for the greatest number justifies cruelty to a few, or is that the tyrany of the majority?
A simple example of it is, that millions of people in Europe and the US, for instance, are so happy with all the cheap products, which however are produced by severely exploited people under trerrible conditions.
The abused child symbolizes the marginalized and exploited people whose suffering sustains privileged societies. This mirrors real-world systems where people benefit from exploitation, but choose to ignore it.
Dehumanization is a common method to help rationalization. The child is kept in filth and misery, stripped of dignity, making it easier for the citizens to rationalize its suffering.
We like to talk about underdeveloped countries or even give it a racist twist and add that the people there are to lazy or stupid to do something else than.....so how good is it of us to offer them "jobs".
The citizens of Omelas learn at a young age about the child's suffering but come to terms with it. They rationalize it, feel pity, and then move on. Le Guin is holding up a mirror: how do we accept injustice in our own societies?
Are we complicit in systems, economic, social, political, that harm others? Do we rationalize suffering if it brings us comfort? But Omelas can represent modern systems of oppression, injustice, or economic inequality that we accept as “normal.”
The most enigmatic and ultimately hopeful element of the story is the existence of "the ones who walk away." These are the individuals who, after contemplating the child in the cellar, cannot accept the moral compromise.
They choose to leave the perfect city of Omelas, walking out into an unknown and perhaps non-existent future. Their act is not one of violent revolution or protest.
They do not try to rescue the child, an act the story suggests would be futile and destructive to the established order. Instead, their departure is a quiet, personal, and profound rejection of a system built on an unforgivable injustice.
They represent the power of individual conscience to refuse complicity, even when faced with overwhelming societal consensus and personal comfort.
The ambiguity of their destination is crucial. Le Guin admits to not knowing where they go, only that they "seem to know where they are going."
This suggests that the act of walking away is not about finding another, better utopia, but about the moral necessity of the journey itself.
It is a testament to the idea that some principles are absolute and that a life built on the suffering of another is no life worth living, regardless of the alternative.
Thank you for your attention.... the floor is yours.
Main Sources:
MacMillan The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2nd edition
TABLE OF CONTENT -----------------------------------------------------------------
1 - 100 Philosophers 9 May 2009 Start of
2 - 25+ Women Philosophers 10 May 2009 this blog
3 - 25 Adventures in Thinking 10 May 2009
4 - Modern Theories of Ethics 29 Oct 2009
5 - The Ideal State 24 Febr 2010 / 234
6 - The Mystery of the Brain 3 Sept 2010 / 266
7 - The Utopia of the Free Market 16 Febr 2012 / 383
8. - The Aftermath of Neo-liberalism 5 Sept 2012 / 413
9. - The Art Not to Be an Egoist 6 Nov 2012 / 426
10 - Non-Western Philosophy 29 May 2013 / 477
11 - Why Science is Right 2 Sept 2014 / 534
12 - A Philosopher looks at Atheism 1 Jan 2015 / 557
13 - EVIL, a philosophical investigation 17 Apr 2015 / 580
14 - Existentialism and Free Will 2 Sept 2015 / 586
15 - Spinoza 2 Sept 2016 / 615
16 - The Meaning of Life 13 Febr 2017 / 637
17 - In Search of my Self 6 Sept 2017 / 670
18 - The 20th Century Revisited 3 Apr 2018 / 706
19 - The Pessimist 11 Jan 2020 / 819
20 - The Optimist 9 Febr 2020 / 824
21 - Awakening from a Neoliberal Dream 8 Oct 2020 / 872
22 - A World Full of Patterns 1 Apr 2021 / 912
23 - The Concept of Freedom 8 Jan 2022 / 965
24 - Materialism 7 Sept 2022 / 1011
25 - Historical Materialism 5 Oct 2023 / 1088
26 - The Bonobo and the Atheist 9 Jan 2024 / 1102
27 - Artificial Intelligence 9 Feb 2024 / 1108
28 - Why Am I Here 6 Sept 2024 / 1139
The Discussion
[13:18] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Thank you Herman
[13:19] Valibrarian Gregg: I was reminded--- "the ones who walk away"- are illustrating there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for others (a literary connection)
[13:19] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): Speaking of that, I just read this, I wonder what utopia Neth tries to create, now he want to appearently wipe every iranian off the planet like he does with the palestinians if not even worse
[13:19] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): just saw this
[13:19] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh9-UA3OT04
[13:19] Max Chatnoir: Thanks, Herman. Good explanation of the story.
[13:19] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): 😢
[13:20] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i have quite a few frieds who are iranians also
[13:20] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): wonderful people all of them
[13:20] herman Bergson: let's leave current politics out for a moment, Bejiita
[13:20] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aabut speaking of utopias
[13:20] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but that os not an utopia at all i guess
[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well
[13:21] Valibrarian Gregg: LeGuin’s story:
Question arises: what is happiness? What is suffering? (We know the answer but is it truly avoidable?)
Faulkner ends his story “Tomorrow” with , “... to endure and endure and endure.”
[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): that book is indeed holding an important statement
[13:21] herman Bergson: Key issue here is how to determine what is morally acceptable in general
[13:21] herman Bergson: Yes Val..there it begins
[13:21] bergfrau Apfelbaum: for me, it is just incomprehensible that none of the "happy people" wanted to help the child
[13:22] herman Bergson: That is the big weak spot of utilitarianism
[13:22] bergfrau Apfelbaum: hi:-) Valibrarian
[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaa indeed, help the child and the utopia crumbles
[13:22] herman Bergson: That would end the happy city Bergie
[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes
[13:22] Valibrarian Gregg: perhaps a "happiness" in easing the suffering of another
[13:23] herman Bergson: why don't want big companies pay fair wages in foreign countries and exploit the people....that would destroy their profits
[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i dont know how i would set me in this situation but i want noone to suffer
[13:23] bergfrau Apfelbaum: it's terrible
[13:23] Valibrarian Gregg: the oscillation between enjoyment and endurance (to enjoy or to endure)
[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaaa yes thats a rl example
[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed
[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i guess
[13:24] Valibrarian Gregg: Human life takes place within the oscillation of opposites
[13:24] herman Bergson: You are preparing for the next lecture Val and need to meet Aristotle :-))
[13:25] herman Bergson: The ones who walk away..... do they make a correct moral choice.....
[13:25] Valibrarian Gregg: I would love to- as I am always intrigued by philosophy (the past and certainly our current philosophical moment)
[13:25] herman Bergson: to walk away is to choose too
[13:26] Valibrarian Gregg: yes! and sometimes doing nothing is a choice with consequences
[13:26] herman Bergson: shouldn't they revolt against the injustice?
[13:26] Max Chatnoir: And walking away doesn't destroy Omelas, but it doesn't rescue the child either.
[13:26] herman Bergson: from an existentialist point of view: every choice has consequences
[13:26] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): true Max
[13:27] Valibrarian Gregg: yes @Max- but perhaps the walkers feel they get a gold star
[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaah
[13:27] Max Chatnoir: It's a kind of consent.
[13:27] Valibrarian Gregg: or ease their burden of guilt
[13:27] herman Bergson: So the main question is....should the child be rescued regarless the consequences and if so, WHY?
[13:28] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): if they run away they can't do anything anymore to make the child happy
[13:28] Valibrarian Gregg: bring the special operation forces! with night goggles
[13:28] Max Chatnoir: How do they KNOW that the consequences would be total misery for Omelas?
[13:28] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): lol,Bergie
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): haahaha
[13:28] bergfrau Apfelbaum: ... grins
[13:28] Max Chatnoir: OK, dear, somebody said r-u-n,
[13:28] bergfrau Apfelbaum: hihi
[13:28] herman Bergson: that was the principle on which the suffering of the child is based Max
[13:29] Max Chatnoir: But how was it set up? Who started it? How do they know it's really like that?
[13:29] Valibrarian Gregg: each of us makes choices- but we have limitations (I have no night goggles and no weapons) but we also know others whom we may convince to help
[13:30] herman Bergson: The question is....are the ones who walk away in fact morally oblidged to save the child in stead of walking away, which is immoral then
[13:31] bergfrau Apfelbaum: I don't think it's immoral to save a child
[13:31] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmmm indeed walking away dont hep the child
[13:31] bergfrau Apfelbaum: i am a mama
[13:31] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): help
[13:31] bergfrau Apfelbaum: those who leave are cowards.
[13:31] herman Bergson: no..I mean ..in this situationit is immoral to walk away and NOT save the child
[13:31] bergfrau Apfelbaum: yes it is
[13:32] herman Bergson: and if so...WHY?
[13:32] bergfrau Apfelbaum: because one is obliged to help the weaker
[13:32] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): is there another way, be happy AND safe a child?
[13:32] Max Chatnoir: And Omelas isn't the whole world. They go someplace else. Would it be right for them to test the hypothesis that releasing the child would destroy Omelas?
[13:33] herman Bergson: Ok....one hint.....human dignity... natural rights of the individual
[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah
[13:34] Max Chatnoir: And why should they believe that the story is true?
[13:34] Valibrarian Gregg: I am reminded of a culture who offers a virgin to the gods- throw her into the fire
[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): or is it a confirmed fact that this would happen?
[13:34] herman Bergson: That is another chapter Max
[13:34] Max Chatnoir: And even if it somehow is, why not try to fix it?
[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): 100%
[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): like laws of physics ect
[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): or is it just a story to scare people not to save the child
[13:35] herman Bergson: Try to fix it is equal to the many protests today against the exploitation of people for profits
[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): because then it will all crumble for everyone else
[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): they say
[13:36] Max Chatnoir: Does the child ever grow up? Do they recruit a new one every 12 years? It's sounds like a scary story to keep you from asking questions.
[13:36] herman Bergson: yes...if you do not exploit people products might become more expensive...
[13:37] Valibrarian Gregg: and money drives most of the world
[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm
[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): true
[13:37] herman Bergson: It does VAl, but that does not mean that there are no alternatives
[13:38] Valibrarian Gregg: and a hero will rescue at the cost of his own life....a hero does not walk away from the child's suffering
[13:38] Max Chatnoir: One of them should walk away with the kid.
[13:38] herman Bergson: because they exist, but not in the pure capitalist system we now use
[13:38] Valibrarian Gregg: so- is there no hero in the story?
[13:38] herman Bergson: no...
[13:38] Valibrarian Gregg: yes- in all cultures, we see human nature and selfishness- no matter the political system
[13:38] Max Chatnoir: It's a really good thought experiment.
[13:39] herman Bergson: therre are those who are complicit in the torture and those whose close their eyes and walk away....
[13:39] herman Bergson: question is....isn't there a third way?
[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indee Max
[13:40] Valibrarian Gregg: yes- illustrating that ignorance is bliss.....but if you know of the child's suffering- you are not ignorant
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm
[13:40] Max Chatnoir: Yes. Accept that idea that nobody's life is going to be perfect, but try to make it as fair as possible.
[13:40] herman Bergson: Yes Max.... if that were our social maxim.....we would have a better world
[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): true
[13:41] Valibrarian Gregg: organize a rescue party realizing the risk
[13:42] bergfrau Apfelbaum: the horrible thing about the story is that people went into the basement to look at the child and were disgusted..... what kind of people are these? i don't think such people are truly happy
[13:42] herman Bergson: Well...this was a challenging story and leaves you with a lot to think about
[13:43] herman Bergson: YEs Bergie...that is one of the questions of the story.....what is true happiness
[13:43] bergfrau Apfelbaum: yes a lot
[13:43] Valibrarian Gregg: yes @ bergfrau- happiness is relevant and fleeting
[13:43] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed!
[13:43] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): a lot for sure
[13:43] Valibrarian Gregg: a headache can make you unhappy
[13:44] herman Bergson: but aren't there at least 50 shades of happiness?
[13:44] herman Bergson: Again language is fooling us here....
[13:45] Valibrarian Gregg: I find joy in faith- (not happiness really as that fluctuates) but faith cannot be used in a philosophical argument
[13:45] herman Bergson: we have one word so we assume it refers to one property, which is not the case in fact
[13:45] Valibrarian Gregg: so I rely on reason and ethics
[13:45] Valibrarian Gregg: yes! we can never have enough words! they all have many connotations
[13:45] Valibrarian Gregg: A picture may be worth a thousand words but I want to read them all!
[13:45] herman Bergson: yes
[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaah i guess so,
[13:46] Valibrarian Gregg: the word love? way too many meanings!
[13:47] Valibrarian Gregg: and now... kids want graphic novels! YIKES they need more words
[13:47] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): ther can't be love in that town if 1 child suffers
[13:47] bergfrau Apfelbaum: genau Beertje! seeing a child suffering MUST make you unhappy. Or you're not human.
[13:48] Max Chatnoir: Yes, I can't imagine that knowing about the child wouldn't affect most people.
[13:48] herman Bergson: well, at least the story makes clear that utilitarianism is not a good explanation of ethics
[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aah
[13:48] Valibrarian Gregg: another bible reference- " 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'"
[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): true for me
[13:48] Max Chatnoir: Yes, an excellent antiutilitarianism argument!
[13:49] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i cant use others for my own happiness, that would not feel good / right at all
[13:49] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): thats me
[13:49] herman Bergson: So we are left with Kant and for next time Aristotle :-)
[13:50] Valibrarian Gregg: IS this class on both Tues and Thurs or just Tuesdays
[13:50] Max Chatnoir: Tuesda and Thursday
[13:50] herman Bergson: LEt the dust of the many thoughts settle and get ready for nexr Thursday :-)
[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): both tue and thursdays
[13:50] Max Chatnoir: Same time
[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaah ㋡
[13:50] bergfrau Apfelbaum: thank you Herman and class
[13:50] herman Bergson: Since 2007, Val :-)
[13:50] Valibrarian Gregg loves the smell of the pipe smoke ;)
[13:51] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): (looks at my body now covered on dust) i need to get into the pool again or at least have a shower
[13:51] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:51] Valibrarian Gregg: gosh am I late!!! since 2007 :)
[13:51] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): we are dino's Val
[13:51] herman Bergson: In 2007 class was also on Sunday...:-)
[13:51] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:51] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hehe
[13:51] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ok
[13:51] Valibrarian Gregg also likes the NPCs filling in our chairs and listening hehe
[13:52] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): what are NPCs?
[13:52] Valibrarian Gregg: the non player characters sitting in the chairs
[13:52] Valibrarian Gregg: not that we are PLAYERS!!!
[13:52] herman Bergson: Non personal characters?
[13:52] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): ok thank you
[13:52] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): Non player characters
[13:52] Valibrarian Gregg: it is a gaming term
[13:52] Max Chatnoir: Yes, it's nice that Herman has had to remove some of them !
[13:52] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): the characters controlled by the game engine and not the players
[13:52] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): like the wapplers
[13:53] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): are NPCs
[13:53] bergfrau Apfelbaum: lol
[13:53] Valibrarian Gregg: and soon we will have AI bots who can talk with us which shall provide philosophical discussions for sure!
[13:53] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): ich weiss was ein wappler ist
[13:53] Valibrarian Gregg: non human agents
[13:53] herman Bergson: Well....thank you all again for today's discussion...
[13:53] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:53] herman Bergson: Class dismissed...
[13:53] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): thank you Herman
[13:53] Max Chatnoir: Thanks, Herman and all!
[13:54] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): intresting again
[13:54] bergfrau Apfelbaum: ~Applause~
[13:54] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i have a similar term i also work with now and then but thats for a totally different purpose
[13:54] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): MPC = music production center
[13:54] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): one of my dance buddies collect these
[13:54] Valibrarian Gregg: HOpe to see you next time
[13:54] Valibrarian Gregg: bye for now
[13:54] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): bye Val
[13:54] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): cu Val
[13:54] herman Bergson: Bye Val :-)
[13:54] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:54] bergfrau Apfelbaum: byebye Val:-)
[13:54] Max Chatnoir: See you soon, Val!
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