Re: MR: Disc: Philosopher's Stone

[Mark Schuldenfrei <schuldy@abel.MATH.HARVARD.EDU>]

Poster: Mark Schuldenfrei <schuldy@abel.MATH.HARVARD.EDU>

  Alfredo:
  > Let's say you dabble in a little alchemy in your
  > spare time, and you actually seem to have found
  > a way to turn lead into gold.  However, the first
  > time you try converting a really sizable quantity,
  > you notice that your process has the side-effect
  > of turning all the gold in your pouch to lead.
  > And all the gold in the house.  And all your
  > neighbors start complaining that _their_ gold
  > has turned to lead.  A surreptitious survey soon
  > reveals that all the gold for about a mile
  > around your new gold block has been leadened;
  > some of the coins from the edge of the effect
  > are duller but still negotiable.  You calculate
  > that the amount of missing gold is roughly equal
  > to the amount your process garnered.
  
  > * Should you tell your neighbors that you
  >   have accidently stolen their gold?

Theft is theft.  How would you be treated.  At least, a theft that had no
intention, and is acknowledged, allows the injustice to be righted.
  
  > * Should you repay them?

Should a thief not be required to make the victim whole, if he can?
  
  > * What should you do with your new process?
  
Perfect it... It needs work.

	Tibor
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