Judeo-Christian Analysis of the COVID-19 Crisis and Its Management
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24197/jstr.1.2023.131-154Keywords:
public health; atheism; priesthood responsibility; decision making; public choice; disaster response.Abstract
The present coronavirus crisis caused major worldwide disruption. Numerous experts admit now that the crisis management was far from optimal from the very beginning. In the paper, we first digest the available information on the crisis and its management. We then list factors that led to the chosen way of crisis management. Afterwards, we question whether religious leaders could have gained enough information for them not to have supported lockdowns etc. back in March, 2020. In our opinion, they could have if they would have addressed trustworthy experts with a list of reasonable professional questions. We then analyze the question if hypothetical coercive measures are justified in the case when they are effective in decreasing the overall mortality but cause the death of several people. Our conclusion is that such measures are not justified ethically, and implementing emergency powers is justified only in the case of war. Finally, we formulate several important problems highlighted by COVID-19 to be discussed in the future.Downloads
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