The Ant and the Grasshopper

Consider Æsop’s timeless fable.

Æsop. (Sixth century B.C.) Fables.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.

“The ant and the grasshopper”

In a field one summer’s day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart’s content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.

“Why not come and chat with me,” said the Grasshopper, “instead of toiling and moiling in that way?”

“I am helping to lay up food for the winter,” said the Ant, “and recommend you to do the same.”

“Why bother about winter?” said the Grasshopper; “we have got plenty of food at present.” But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil. When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food, and found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants distributing every day corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then the Grasshopper knew:
“It is best to prepare for the days of necessity."

Like all Æsop’s fables this one as a timeless lesson that used to be taught to our children routinely. In terms of modern liberal philosophy, how does this fable compare? How does this fable compare to traditional American values? Here are some moral and ethical questions that can be applied to the Ant and the Grasshopper.

Is the ant being greedy?

Is it “fair” that the grasshopper didn’t have a share of the corn?

Is there a moral obligation for the ant to feed the grasshopper?

Should the ant be punished for having such wealth?

Should the grasshopper have been forced to work?

Who is responsible for taking care of the grasshopper?

Whose fault is it that the grasshopper starves?

Is it morally acceptable to use force to redistribute the ant family wealth regardless of the wishes of the ants?

How does Æsop’s fable compare to today’s healthcare debate? Should the 97% of citizens who have health care or can be taken care of through existing government means, have to provide health care to the 3% who don’t.