In the first installment of our new Table Talk series, Rick Pimentel considers when someone’s personal life should become the public’s business. It’s common sense that in general a person’s actions should remain private unless they want it to become public. But this general rule seems to have important exceptions as in cases of a terrorists decision to cause public harm or a public employee’s infelicities. But what about the private actions of a sports figure or movie star? Does the public have the “right to know” what these people do off the field or off the screen? Rick surveys three ethical theories that may help answer questions like these.

If you knew that Tiger was committing adultery, do you confront Tiger? Or do you tell his wife? Or do nothing? On the surface, it surely seems correct that people should not be meddling in the lives of others but is this rule applicable to all situations? In other words, are there exceptions to this rule? If yes, what criteria should be used to determine these exceptions?

 

See the full article here.