Social Studies 10

Case Analysis
Promise to a Dying Friend

David, Peter Jan B.

Pili, Sam Gabriel P.
Paragas, Shalito Lois G.
Recto, Victoria Eugenia L.

Grade 10 - Emerald

O.B. Montessori Center

Angeles Campus

November 11, 2019

Summary of the Case
Harold and David, close friends and devoted mountaineers. David is dating Doris
(Harold’s sister). On an expedition, Harold gets injured which then leads to his death. Harold
makes David promise to marry Doris, because he is worried about his sister. David promises to
marry Doris. Unfortunately, David is unable to fulfill his promise, because he doesn’t truly love
her, he just enjoys her company. 

Main Problem / Conflict 

The problem in this case is the promise that was broken between David and Harold. On
David’s side, he knows better than to marry a woman he does not even truly love; however, this
puts Doris and the promise he made to his best friend at stake. Who would want someone who
breaks a promise as important as this. 

Philosopher / Philosophy used 

According to Jeremy Bentham, to achieve moral goodness requires the greatest amount
of pleasure for the greatest number of people. Bentham also stated that, “The less the numerical
difference between the minority and majority, the more obvious the deficiency in aggregate
happiness will be. Logically, then, the closer we approximate the happiness of all the members
of the community, the greater the aggregate of happiness.” His philosophy is about the number
of people that are pleasured. Assuming that Harold is dead and incapable of any pleasure, while
David who is alive and can still experience pleasure.

Answer and Conclusion 

Promises are more than agreements between two or more people — promises are
supposed to be fulfilled willingly. In the case of David, the promise he made to Harold to marry
Doris was harder for him to fulfill because he knew in himself that he doesn’t love Doris enough
to see a future with her, especially as a married couple. Marriage is supposed to be a bond
between two people who mutually love each other unconditionally, and plan their future
together. David did the right thing to break his promise. If not marrying Doris will give him a
happy life, then David should go for it. On the part of Doris, she obviously deserves someone for
than David that will give her the happiness she deserves. Marrying a person that one doesn’t
truly love, just to keep a promise, is a life that no one wants to live. Therefore, David should
prioritize what will be best for Doris and himself in the long run. In dealing with these types of
decisions, we should take into consideration its effects on the future of the people involved.
David and Doris are the only two people left whose feelings should be considered. David did the
right thing to not marry Doris, it would be completely unfair if she were to marry someone who
did not love her the same way she loved him, and not fair for him to spend the rest of his life 
married to someone whom he knows deserves better. Who is to say that Doris herself wants to
marry David, maybe it was all Harold’s idea. Whether other people knew about the promise or
not, it still doesn’t mean it had to be kept just because other people knew about it. It is not their
right, or responsibility to tell David what he should and shouldn’t do. It is David and Doris who
are in a relationship, they both know how each other behaves, so they know how things work in
their relationship.

In addition to our response, an article stated that, “You make the promise to make 'em
feel better - then do whatever is the right thing, including breaking the promise”. When a loved
one, or significant other is at his/her final moments, we comply to their every need for the time
being. When they pass, it is our choice whether we choose to fulfill their requests or not. If no
good comes from a deathbed promise, then keeping the promise is unethical. It may be
disrespectful on the part of Harold that his friend did not keep his promise, but who is to stop
David for him? Harold has no more say in this agreement. It all circles back to David doing the
right thing for the benefit of the majority, and the betterment of the future.