The Devil's Mark Dilemma And Ethical Dilemmas Directory

(Background music)

Part Zero: The Directory on Ethical Problems

The Trophy Dilemma -- How Rewards Kill Potential

The Reception Dilemma (And How to Solve It)

The Solitary Egotist Dilemma -- To Contribute Or Not To Contribute to Others?

The Sensitive Originator's Dilemma -- What I Chose

The Robot Lover Dilemma -- How Romance and A.I Are Morally Questionable

My Solution to the "Trolley Problem"

The Problem With Time

The Problems of Following Your Passions

5 Problems with Masculinity in Today's Society

The Problem With Destiny -- How It Could be Risky

The Newcomer's Fallacy -- The Problem With Those New to Philosophy

The Grey Problem -- How To Better Understand Ourselves

The Problems of the Overman -- What Nietzsche Didn't Consider

The Problems with the Computer Simulation Theory and the Eternal Void

The Problem with Birthdays and Other Events (From an Autistic Standpoint)

The Problem with Standards -- Advocating Disability Awareness -- A Philosophy of Inclusion

The Problem of (Some) Religions In Philosophy From a Functional Standpoint

Socrates and The Problem With Philosophy (Also, Philosocom's Socrates Directory)

The Problem Behind Wanting Payback -- Understanding the Drawbacks and Alternatives to Revenge

The "Each New Day" Problem (Or, My Reasoning against Meaninglessness/Nihilism)

Why Pure Joy Could Be a Problem -- The Aspects That Matter As Well, and Even More

Working To Live VS Living To Work -- Why Focusing on Quality of Life is Problematic)

Introduction

The article delves into the intricate moral dilemmas that arise in extreme survival situations. Drawing parallels between historical events and philosophical thought, both real and fictional, we can understand why some people would compromise their own morality in the name of evil they don't have to submit to, however are inclined to, nonetheless.

The Devil's Mark Dilemma presents to the reader a hypothetical scenario that even he or she might comply to if they were in the shoes of a resistance party against a pro-devil government organization.

By examining the tension between individual beliefs and collective survival, we can gain valuable insights into the nature of morality and human behavior.

Furthermore, we can apply these insights for our own lives, allowing us to empower choices we otherwise would avoid picking.

Part I: The Devil Mark of the New World Order

In a cinematic piece, The New World Order: The End Has Come (2013), humanity is confronted with a stark, existential dilemma.... A choice between a satanic faith order, lead by a global ruler representing the devil (Lord Aldo De Luca, possessed by the devil himself), and all of freedom. The premise is humorously simple: surrender one's deeply-held religious beliefs and freedoms for survival, or perish in the name of Satan.

This cinematic exploration of religious conflict mirrors historical events. During the Jewish diaspora, some converted to Christianity to escape persecution, like some people converted to the New World Order in the movie, by possessing the Devil's Mark on their forehead. 

Was it a betrayal of tradition for the sake of security, a compromise in the face of adversity? Or was it a pragmatic survival strategy? Socrates might have happily refuse surrendering his forehead to an organization he would've deemed corrupt beyond measure, and a product of a democratic world. Thomas Hobbes, on the other hand, would've justified conversion due to the concept of the social contract.

The Nazi regime, however, demonstrated a spine-chilling disregard for such distinctions. Ironically the NWO organization was better than the Nazis, for the NWO were inclusive about all kinds of people joining their ranks. Furthermore, they would offer mercy, in the movie, to people instead of killing them. In the eyes of simple-minded folk, the choice was not less about between faith and immoral servitude, but between life and death.

In The New World Order, the antagonist, a Satanic force, offers a similar ultimatum. Those who resist the "New World Order" are marked for destruction. The film's tragic conclusion, where one heroine decides to mark herself, but her friend chooses to be executed, is a grim reminder: even in the face of overwhelming evil, some choose martyrdom over compromise. And that's how heroic conduct can be just as awful as evil itself for people.

Part II: Historical Parallels

• The Jewish Diaspora: The forced conversion of Jews during the diaspora exemplifies the difficult choices individuals face when their lives are threatened. Some of them found themselves collaborating with the Nazis against their will, working for their financial empires by slaving away their lives in work camps.

  
  

• The Nazi Regime: The horrors of the Holocaust highlight the ultimate moral dilemma: the choice between life and death, between individual conscience and collective survival.

  
  

  Some Nazis and their collaborators, for example, hid Jews in their buildings, in the case of Anne Frank. This shows that not all of them were willing to carry out the Nazi's mark on their shoulders. To quote Frank Herself: “I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are really good at heart"

  
  

Part III: Philosophical Perspectives

• Socratic Idealism: Socrates, a paragon of philosophical integrity, would likely have rejected any compromise with evil, even at the cost of his own life. Valuing the respect of Athenian law, he sacrificed his own life for it.

  
  

• Hobbesian Realism: Thomas Hobbes, on the other hand, would have prioritized self-preservation and justified compromise in the face of overwhelming threat. Hobbes might've valued any social contract that would prevent people's lives from being nasty, brutish and short. As such, Thomas Hobbes would've picked the Devil's Mark without question.

Part IV: To Bear or Not to Bear Unwanted Marks?

In contemporary society, we may face similar moral dilemmas, although in less extreme forms. For instance, people may often have to compromise their moral values so they won't be forsaken by their followers and friends.

Bearing the mark of society, they erase their own unique individuality in exchange for social interactions. This can make these interactions feel shallow and unfulfilling.

The same can be applied to any other trend that cares not for what individuals think about it, preferring instead to focus on social engineering of a herd mentality.

Building a Better life

Also, the more we examine such dilemmas, the more we can deduce for ourselves the life we want to live...

• How much do we want to partake in society?

  
  

• How much should we partake in society?

  
  

• Is it the right thing for us to live outside of societal bounds?

  
  

• How much of our values and moral codes will we sacrifice just to blend in with other societal/organizational members?

• Should we disregard society entirely and go our own ways?

The more we ask ourselves this question, by looking within us and considering our ambitions in life, the more we can work towards living a life we might feel are better of us specifically. After all these questions are subjective and personal.

Conclusion

The Devil's Mark Dilemma serves as a grim philosophy of the complex moral choices we may face, especially in the most extreme circumstances. As one can deduce, the tension between individual conscience and collective survival is a timeless theme, echoed in historical events and philosophical thought.

By delving into these dilemmas, one not only gain a deeper understanding of human nature but also equip ourselves to navigate the moral complexities of our own lives. Whether it's the pressure to conform to societal norms, or the temptation to compromise our values for personal gain, or the difficult choices we face in the face of adversity, the lessons learned can guide one toward a more ethical and fulfilling existence.

Ultimately, the choice between individual integrity and collective survival is a personal one. However, by examining the consequences of our actions and the potential impact on ourselves and others, we can make informed decisions that align with our deepest virtues.

May we all draw inspiration from the wisdom of the past and the courage of those who have stood up for what they believe in, in both tales of fiction and in the real world.