NE North Dakota News

Arguments about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict often turn accusatory, with each side seeking moral superiority. This leads to dismissive attitudes and false accusations, hindering productive dialogue.

In "Israel, Palestine, and the Trolley Problem: On the Futility of the Search for the Moral High Ground," philosopher Jack Russell Weinstein examines these argumentative errors. The book, published by The Digital Press at UND, combines philosophy, history, politics, and personal insights to foster a more empathetic discussion on achieving peace in the Middle East.

Weinstein is a Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at UND. He approaches this geopolitical issue through classical ethics. He questions how Immanuel Kant's "Categorical Imperative" or virtue ethics from Plato and Aristotle might guide solutions. Utilitarianism is also considered but found inadequate for resolving central dilemmas like land claims.

Weinstein uses the Trolley Problem as a metaphor for the conflict. "First posed by philosopher Phillippa Foot in 1967," he writes: “An unstoppable trolley faces a fork in the tracks. One direction leads to running over five people; the other kills one.” There is no easy answer, reflecting that there is no moral solution to this stalemate.

In addressing objections to his conclusions, Weinstein challenges views labeling Israel as a colonial power by highlighting historical Jewish presence in Israel and Palestine. He argues that calling Israel colonialist misunderstands facts.

He acknowledges Palestinian displacement when discussing Israel's right to defend its borders aggressively. Weinstein compares this to Canada's recognition of Nunavut as an Indigenous province due to past displacements.

The vehemence with which both sides assert their righteousness complicates prospects for resolution. Weinstein notes that belief in moral superiority fuels conflict further: “(T)he worst fuel for this particular fire is that everyone...is convinced they are morally superior.”

For progress beyond the Trolley Problem’s dilemma, both sides must acknowledge moral complexity—a challenging task given human nature: “Trying to be fair is a curse...Once you decide everyone matters, the world becomes much less hospitable.”