♥Nick♥ Posted May 15, 2015 Share Posted May 15, 2015 The Trolley Problem A runaway train is heading towards five workers on a railway line. There is no way of warning them, but you are standing near a lever that operates some points. Switch the points and the train goes down a spur. Trouble is, the is another worker on that bit of track too. But, it is one fatality instead of five. Should you do that? Now imagine the train heading for the workers again, but this time it can only be stopped by pushing a very large man off a bridge. His great bulk would stop the train, but he would die. Should you do that? Why and/or why not? Both are cases of sacrificing one to save five. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
λngelღмander Posted May 15, 2015 Share Posted May 15, 2015 Do whatever saves the most people, I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A-money Posted May 15, 2015 Share Posted May 15, 2015 Save as many people as you can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weedoof Posted May 15, 2015 Share Posted May 15, 2015 For the first one, pull the lever. By not taking an action to pull the lever, you are indirectly taking an action that results in the death of 5 people rather than one. Same way for the second one, but he'd probably push me off the bridge before I could get him since I'm small and weak. But y'know, A for effort I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrW Zest Posted May 15, 2015 Share Posted May 15, 2015 Save as ost as you can ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffyy Posted May 15, 2015 Share Posted May 15, 2015 5>1 simple Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
♥Nick♥ Posted May 15, 2015 Author Share Posted May 15, 2015 4 of you did not read the problem carefully. In both cases, you could save 5 people. The real question is, would you pull the lever and/or push the large man off the bridge? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffyy Posted May 15, 2015 Share Posted May 15, 2015 4 of you did not read the problem carefully. In both cases, you could save 5 people. The real question is, would you pull the lever and/or push the large man off the bridge? and you cant understand implications apparently. yes, they are implying they would do that to save 5 lives over one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
♥Nick♥ Posted May 15, 2015 Author Share Posted May 15, 2015 and you cant take implications apparently. yes, they are implying they would do that to save 5 lives over one. So you're just fine with pushing a man off a bridge and thus killing him in the process? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weedoof Posted May 15, 2015 Share Posted May 15, 2015 So you're just fine with pushing a man off a bridge and thus killing him in the process? If it is in the interest of saving the 5 workers on the tracks below, yes. Better to have the guilt of killing one man than that of indirectly killing 5, though that's not the only reason I'd want to save them, ofc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffyy Posted May 15, 2015 Share Posted May 15, 2015 So you're just fine with pushing a man off a bridge and thus killing him in the process? would it make me a better man to watch 5 people die when i could have prevented it by sacrificing one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
♥Nick♥ Posted May 15, 2015 Author Share Posted May 15, 2015 would it make me a better man to watch 5 people die when i could have prevented it by sacrificing one? What if the person on the second set of tracks was a loved one? Would you do it then? Kill a loved one to save five strangers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffyy Posted May 15, 2015 Share Posted May 15, 2015 What if the person on the second set of tracks was a loved one? Would you do it then? Kill a loved one to save five strangers? you completely ignored my question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apo Posted May 15, 2015 Share Posted May 15, 2015 do nothing; kill nobody. Anyone who interferes is a murderer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stohpidarsesheet Posted May 15, 2015 Share Posted May 15, 2015 · Hidden by puddingkip, May 15, 2015 - No reason given Hidden by puddingkip, May 15, 2015 - No reason given Thanks for that! (Michael Sandel) Link to comment
MC22 Posted May 15, 2015 Share Posted May 15, 2015 If I kill all of them I won't have to feel guilty of letting any of them survive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weedoof Posted May 15, 2015 Share Posted May 15, 2015 do nothing; kill nobody Anyone who interferes is a murderer I think you may have misread the question. In any of these scenarios, someone is going to die no matter what happens It boils down to the question of whether you take no action at the cost of 5 lives, or take action and only lose 1. Toward this end, taking action would arguably make you a hero among your peers for having the quick thinking to pull the lever (or push the man off the bridge) to save 5 lives, even at the cost of one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheVenomWithin Posted May 15, 2015 Share Posted May 15, 2015 You got this from braingames? I've seen the episode. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
♥Nick♥ Posted May 15, 2015 Author Share Posted May 15, 2015 I think you may have misread the question. In any of these scenarios, someone is going to die no matter what happens It boils down to the question of whether you take no action at the cost of 5 lives, or take action and only lose 1. Toward this end, taking action would arguably make you a hero among your peers for having the quick thinking to pull the lever (or push the man off the bridge) to save 5 lives, even at the cost of one. You can also be considered a murderer for having killed one person. You got this from braingames? I've seen the episode. Never heard of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheVenomWithin Posted May 15, 2015 Share Posted May 15, 2015 You can also be considered a murderer for having killed one person. Never heard of it. Interesting, as thats where i've heard of this. Anyway i'll input my opinion If someones going to die no matter what, you shouldn't kill an innocent person when fate wanted to kill the others. Either way there's a loss, however one at a greater cost. Your conscience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puddkingkip's Selfie Posted May 15, 2015 Share Posted May 15, 2015 Someone's been watching too much Buzzfeed :3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRR-O Damon1174 Posted May 15, 2015 Share Posted May 15, 2015 Kill yourself. Simple as that. Impale yourself on the lever or something i dunno Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apo Posted May 15, 2015 Share Posted May 15, 2015 I think you may have misread the question. In any of these scenarios, someone is going to die no matter what happens It boils down to the question of whether you take no action at the cost of 5 lives, or take action and only lose 1. Toward this end, taking action would arguably make you a hero among your peers for having the quick thinking to pull the lever (or push the man off the bridge) to save 5 lives, even at the cost of one. If you're uninvolved, you're responsible for 0 deaths. If you're involved, you're responsible for a death. I read the question thoroughly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Shako Posted May 15, 2015 Share Posted May 15, 2015 The answer is obvious: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurboNEET Posted May 15, 2015 Share Posted May 15, 2015 If you're uninvolved, you're responsible for 0 deaths. If you're involved, you're responsible for a death. I read the question thoroughly. I agree, I'd simply close my eyes and walk away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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