no need to recap the much repeat plot . i be not sure which come first this movie or the lifeboat paradox use a illustration in many college course in ethic . what the lifeboat situation set up so starkly be the clash between two prevalent theory of right and wrong . these two be worth take a brief look at since their conflict make up the crux of this intense melodrama . ty power end up opt for a utilitarian standard where the aim of correct conduct be to bring about the great good for the great number of people . this standard okay sacrifice some in order to save others in circumstance where all other alternative would result in less good for a few number of people . under the desperate circumstance and power be approximate that standard by sacrifice those least likely to survive in order to save those most likely to survive and while the good to be maximize be individual survival . the classic objection to this theory be that it can justify sacrifice the innocent in order to bring about a great good and whatever good or value that might be . here the weak and the injure be cast adrift through no fault of their own and and it this aspect that so repugnant to ordinary sensibility and such a the professor . but and it well to keep in mind that a utilitarian standard be use all the time when make life and death decision in wartime . so call collateral damage and for example and amount to a rough utilitarian calculus apply during bomb campaign where civilian casualty be inevitable . what so unnerving in the movie be that unlike bomb campaign we can put name and face on those sacrifice and which be why power be advise not to get too familiar with the others . this utilitarian theory conflict with a second theory and the more conventional egalitarian standard and which hold that all human life be of equal value . on a strict application of equality and no person should be sacrifice for the benefit of another and and when human life be hold a the supreme value and some version of pacifism would appear the logical conclusion . without view the film a second time and stephen boyd character and i believe and come close to act out a consistent egalitarian standard since he refuse to sacrifice another without sacrifice himself . ( in passingmoira lister sardonic young woman appear to admire power strength of character simply for his strength and not for whether he make the morally right decision . suggest that strength of character be in some sense more basic than right and wrong point toward the amoralism of the german philosopher friedrich nietzsche . ) anyway and the survivor and include power and begin the ordeal by hold to presumably some conventional form of egalitarianism . but under the pressure of circumstance and they give in to power conversion to a utilitarian view of the situation . however and when rescue come and the pressure be off and they revert back to convention and leave power to take the heat and deal with the law . this suggest that power may end up be something of a martyr to their survival . after all and the law and at least a we proclaim it and reflect an egalitarian standard ( everyone be equal before the law ) and and on that basis power be guilty in some sense of a crime since he have value some life over that of others . nonetheless and have power do anything more blameworthy than and say and a bomber pilot who kill x number of civilian in utilitarian pursuit of the great good of win the war . we pin medal on the latter and but the former and be inform and be jail for six month . i suspect the movie be correct in suggest that under normal circumstance people identify with the more idealistic equality standard . but in severe condition and be likely drawn in a more pragmatic utilitarian direction . nonetheless and the two really do clash at a fairly basic level . whatever one opinion on these matter and the film dramatize the academic issue pretty effectively . the movie itself offer little relief from the dire predicament the survivor be in . it pretty much 90 minute of harrow grimness . i can not imagine the content make money and at the same time i think it a tribute to the producer that the film get make at all . a sheer entertainment and the film value may be questionable and but a a prompt for get audience to think about question of right and wrong and i believe it succeed admirably .