Kitty Genovese Ethical Dilemma Essay

On March 13, 1964, Kitty Genovese was murdered directly in front of her home. Her convicted killer is Winston Moseley, stabbed her in the back twice, as neighbors watched. Kitty’s neighbors yelled down to the man as she shrieked. Winston fled the scene as Kitty desperately tried to drag herself to her home. Her neighbors continued to watch. Approximately ten minutes later, her killer returned. Witnesses observed Winston stab Kitty multiple times more, stole her money and sexually assaulted her. Unfortunately, by the time authorities arrived, it was too late. Thirty-eight neighbors watched Miss Genovese perish in the road. This tragic event is an example of the bystander effect, which occurs when the presence, or assumption, of other witnesses discourages the individual from intervening. This can be best described as assuming someone else will step in during the emergency situation. Kitty Genovese’s neighbors all demonstrated the bystander effect and the cost was her life.

As one of Kitty Genovese’s neighbors, my ethical dilemma would be deciding to intervene or do nothing, in assuming that another witness will involve themselves. The problem with deciding to

Ethical egoism is self-centered and, in contrast to ethical subjectivism, is concerned with a person’s own self-interest. Essentially, an act is morally right if it benefits the individual directly. The reason, as a witness, an ethical egoist would intervene during Kitty Genovese’s murder is because it would gain the individual “lasting recognition after death or ensure a place in heaven”(Boss, 207). Even if the individual believes this is an unconscious choice, ethical egoism argues that the underlying motive when rescuing others is self-benefit. A consequence of using this theory to guide my actions as a witness would be if I didn’t believe it was in my own interest to help, then it would be morally acceptable not