The Ethics of Isolation and Social Distancing
Human beings are social, even gregarious, by nature, and we are being told to do some very hard things. We want and need the advantages of big cities and communities. There is something strikingly radical about a hermit who goes out to live alone in the wilderness. Few of us would be capable of such monastic asceticism. Currently, however, all over the world, individuals are being urged and even coerced by law enforcement officers to stay away from others, or at least to give people a wide berth. We are being required to stay home for work, for play, for most activities.
Isolating at home and social distancing as sensible public health measures have been explained and re-explained by experts. The forced confinement of so many has led to some hilarious posts online. My wife loves to read the best ones to me. (For example: “2020 is a unique Leap Year. It had 29 days in February, 300 days in March, and April will be of undetermined length.”) It is good to joke and find comic relief in the midst of difficulties and tragedy. We need that for our sanity as we go stir-crazy at home.
Sadly, for many people, these past few weeks have been a descent into isolated darkness. Calls to a crisis mental-health hotline are sharply up. Drinking, pornography, and bickering, even child abuse of the kids who are now constantly home, are emerging as more acute problems. I am reminded of Jean Paul Sartre and his “Hell is other people” dark thought. Fear, uncertainty and disrupted lives during this crisis can even lead to insomnia and increased irritability. The feeling of powerlessness and lack of control over the future is starkly present in our minds.
What Should We Do?
Pray. A crisis like this one requires us to become the best versions of ourselves, and for that we need God’s help. It is never easy, but surrendering to the will of God is very good practice for accepting with good grace our lack of control over so many things in our lives right now.
Sacrifice for the common good. The very same act, social distancing, can be done out of fear and loathing or from a generous and loving impulse. We can isolate at home for selfish or generous reasons. Our intentions matter tremendously in determining what is ethically pure and what is blameworthy.
Take advantage of technological means to stay in contact with family and friends. Video chats make one feel almost like one has had a visit from someone. It is the next best thing to livestream a Mass or event that we cannot attend in person. There can also be something profoundly unsatisfying about it, but sometimes video calls can help. Telephone calls and emails and even old-fashioned letters can fill some of the void.
We must seriously consider the ethics and costs of isolation and social distancing. Many are starting to make the commonsense point that eventually the costs in human lives will be higher than the benefits. Another important consideration in all this is not to drive the average person beyond their breaking point. Social unrest, even rioting and pillaging, could result if people are pushed too far.
For me, one of the most comforting teachings of Catholicism is the firm belief that God never allows us to be tempted beyond our capacity to resist. I do not have nearly as much confidence in the wisdom or prudence of our civil and medical authorities. A horribly ironic statement from an American military officer during the Vietnam war was “We had to destroy the town in order to save it.” Let’s do all we can to avoid destroying much of our society in order to save it from COVID-19.
Copyright © 2020, The National Catholic Bioethics Center, Philadelphia, PA. All rights reserved.
