Poll: The Right Thing for the Wrong Reason?

The last two days have drawn some spirited comments and emails about the issue of whether buying a Toyota Prius as a status-symbol, rather than an eco-friendly mode of transport, is right or wrong. You can read about it here and here.

I agree with the people who point to the grey area - that hybrid vehicles are good no matter why people buy them - but I want to conclude this discussion with a broad philosophical question. Your choices are "yes" and "no," but I'd love to hear more nuance on the question in the comments section.[poll id=36]

Have an ethics dilemma you'd like to see in a poll? Email wherestheline (at) gmail.com

William Baker

William Baker is a freelance writer living in Cambridge, MA. His work has appeared in Popular Science, the Boston Globe Magazine, the New York Daily News, Boston Magazine, The Weekly Dig and a bunch of other places (including Field & Stream, though he doesn't hunt and can't really fish). He is a regular contributor to the Boston Globe, where he writes the weekly column, "Meeting the Minds." He holds a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, and is at work on his first book.

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