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Friday, October 19, 2018

Trolley Dilemma: Kill One Person to Save Five?

Philosophers love to conduct thought experiments. Often these involve rather bizarre situations, and critics wonder how relevant these thought experiments are to the real world. But the point of the experiments is to help us clarify our thinking by pushing it to the limits. The “trolley dilemma” is one of the most famous of these philosophical imaginings.

The Basic Trolley Problem

A version of this moral dilemma was first put forward in 1967 by the British moral philosopher Phillipa Foot, well-known as one of those responsible for reviving virtue ethics.

Here’s the basic dilemma: A tram is running down a track and is out control. If it continues on its course unchecked and undiverted, it will run over five people who have been tied to the tracks. You have the chance to divert it onto another track simply by pulling a lever. If you do this, though, the tram will kill a man who happens to be standing on this other track. What should you do?

The Utilitarian Response

For many utilitarians, the problem is a no-brainer. Our duty is to promote the greatest happiness of the greatest number. Five lives saved is better than one life saved. Therefore, the right thing to do is to pull the lever.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

1 in place of 5 almost every time.

If the one is someone I know and love, vs the 5 I don't know, the 5 will go.

Basic human survival instincts and loyalty to our social groups... evolutionary necessity for propagation and protections.

Theses scenarios are easily answered, yet are very good at exposing faults in rigid objective moral systems.

Anonymous said...

Now if the five are Pelosi, Schumer, Waters, Corey Booker and Hillary the answer is simple.