From Ocean Depths into God's Lap

Oceangate’s Titan Submersible had sparked commentary ranging from kind to callous. Sympathetic voices have lamented the loss of five souls during the submersion, whilst critics have mocked the passengers for the risk they took and gloried in the untimely demise of the wealthy.

In all fairness, it must be recognized that submersion to the Titanic’s wreckage is risky in any circumstance. Those depths 350 miles off the coast of Newfoundland are treacherous by pressure, temperature and current. There is no scenario in which such a trip would be routine. In the best of cases, it would take considerable resources to attempt a descent to the wreckage, which means that it is a venture which only the wealthy could undertake.

Whereas many of us worry about keeping our refrigerator stocked month to month, the wealthy have no such concerns, which avails them to consider ventures like a descent to the Titanic, a ship which still inflames the world’s fascination. Any documented visit thereto would be immensely valuable to science, history and public interest.

Yet the harshest of critics rejoiced in the passengers’ loss, saying things like “they had it coming.” It is indisputable – especially given the catastrophe – that Oceangate took undue risks with this mission on multiple levels, but that is a topic for discussion on its own. The plain fact is that the passengers countenanced the risk and took it anyways, and human progress itself is often based on such daring and that instinct towards exploration.

A subtler take on this same line of criticism has been the numerous articles which detail the costs incurred by public sector rescue efforts, such as the apparatuses mobilized by the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard. The tone of some of these articles is, “These rich tourists made us spend lots of money!” No Libertarian would argue that none of these costs should be shouldered by the entity needing rescue, but insofar as these apparatuses and crews are financed by taxes, they’ve already been paid for, and by a corporation like Oceangate in higher proportion, to boot. Unless the authors of these articles would want a person of average means to be presented with a particularized bill for services his lifelong taxes already paid for, then it’s pointless to harp on these mobilizations as if there were a worthier use of those resources normally on stand-by for emergencies such as what happened to the Titan Submersible.

In short, you can deride Oceangate’s venture for its haphazard preparations and such, and even label the passengers as foolhardy. But at the same time, mourn their loss and give thanks for the existence of people like those who were both willing and able to press the limits of human exploration.

Originally posted June 30th, 2023, on Facebook.