Does anyone know the philosophy story of the village sacrificing a boy so he takes in all their suffering?

Categorized | Keyword Software Q & A's

Posted on 29 June 2010.

There is a story I read a couple years ago in my philosophy: ethics class. There is a village, and in order for everyone to be happy, they sacrifice a boy (who takes in all their suffering) and keep him in a cage for his whole life until he dies. When he dies, they replace him with another. Anyone know the author and concept, keyword, or idea I can research this with?

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5 Responses to “Does anyone know the philosophy story of the village sacrificing a boy so he takes in all their suffering?”

Doctor Why says:

June 29, 2010 at 4:55 pm

I believe you are thinking of Ursula K. Le Guin’s story, "The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas" (link below for text).

I feel bad that I don’t remember who it was in this forum who introduced me to it!
zmortis says:

June 29, 2010 at 4:55 pm

Sounds like the basis of Christian faith to me.

I hope this helps.
Spectra Svid says:

June 29, 2010 at 4:55 pm

Yes this is the african version of Jesus Christ
Fromafar says:

June 29, 2010 at 4:55 pm

After Rod Serling left behind his fist TV program, The Twilight Zone, he had a second one, Night Gallery, in which there was an episode depicting a similar situation to what you say (definitely Dr Y answer is correct). In that episode, one man worked as a "sin eater" so when people were about to die, he was hired to "eat" their sins so they would go to heaven. Of course, the sins didn’t disappear so he accumulated them.
The paradox was, who would eat his sins when he died?
s7e7v7e7n7 says:

June 29, 2010 at 4:55 pm

The village could be any village of people but only one village stands out among all villages as the chosen one for all mankind.