Thanks for the considered replies, much appreciated. - it is a serious question, and we should all be asking it. You're right to tell me not to go, and you'd be right probably if you said how is this going to matter?
This is what my wife wrote back:
you can’t decide not to come over. You are one man and you cannot change the world. You are not responsible for the world’s problems nor are responsible for carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. Your flying or not flying does absolutely zilch; it’s like removing or adding 1 grain of sand to the beach. All you can do is live your best life, taking care of your own patch. This includes family (daughters, siblings & in-laws) who’d be deeply upset if you decided not to come over. Especially when I’m here and you’re siblings are ageing! Your daughters want and need you in their lives. This trip isn’t frivolous, it’s about family and that primal need to stay connected to family. So my dear, please do WhatsApp your daughters to say you’re coming. Love and hugs Me.
This is my daughter the philospher's response
[5:14 PM, 7/20/2023]It’s the tragedy of the commons isn’t it. From a consequentialist position you’re doing the right thing to come here: spending time with your family creates so much more positive outcomes, which massively outweighs the direct negative impacts of your small share of a international return flight. [5:15 PM, 7/20/2023] : Even from a deontological perspective the right thing is to visit as your familial obligations come first 😘
I had to ask my daughter was deontological meant. She replied: Basically kantian ethics as opposed to consequentialist/utilitarian ethics. You judge whether an action is right or wrong according to a set of moral principles, not according only to the outcomes
But I'm not sure even that helps, after all wasn't my original question a moral one too? In which case, there must be some sort of scale of moral importance, but I'm damned if I know what it is.
I have arranged a house sitter and I"ll be investigating flights tomorrow.
There is one thing that I didn't mention, and that's my abiding love for my old home. I left for NZ when I was forty, and whilst being busy as a GP and a family man, I've enjoyed my life here, I miss a lot, majestic architecture and history, villages, walks in the countryside, pubs (are there still any open nowadays, I hear about so many closing, even fish and chip shops at risk) and Scotland, what can I say about that country? Whenever I'm back in the UK I relax and feel ten years youngerI, A year ago I walked the South Downs way to celebrate my 75th birthday,, with a pack on my back, tent, bedding, cooking gear and all, camping in some sublime spots, even wild camping, though I know that's not supposed to happen. All earthly cares abandoned me. Earlier I camped and walked in the Outer Hebrides. I need to stretch my legs or cycle again and there's no better place in the world to do this than in your islands.