The Trolley Problem

[Jazzy]

Scenario



A trolley is running out of control down a track. In its path are five people who have been tied to the track by a mad philosopher. Fortunately, you could flip a switch, which will lead the trolley down a different track to safety. Unfortunately, there is a single person tied to that track.



Should you flip the switch or do nothing?

 

[Evil Eye]

That depends on the people.

(Well what did you expect someone with my username to say?

)

 

[Evil Eye]

^ Right, but then again, It's not a bad thing to do to save the most lives if possible...

I'd say that's questionable. Not interfering is easier I think.

 

[El Churro]

I would drive my car on the track and push it off course!

 

[The Dragon Master]

I'd flip the switch. One person versus five people is a no brainer. Hypothetically of course. Whether I would do it in real life is another matter all together.

 

[Evil Eye]

it seems like you would let the one person die and kill the others (that's you saved)

Dude... it does not say that. At all.



Now, quit talking about gun ownership, there's another thread for that.

 

[Bluezone777]

I wouldn't do anything one way or the other. I will not stain my hands with blood. For all you know, this character placed a bomb under the five so that once you killed the lone guy tied to the tracks. The other five get killed in the explosion while he smiles as he walks off knowing he got you to kill for nothing. You can argue saving five is better then one but I doubt you will be making that argument if the lone person was someone who you cared about. It's easier when it's all strangers as you can just write it off as the best case scenario and not have to live with the guilt that you willfully killed someone because you will just say you had no choice but you did have a choice and you made yours and now people have to pay the consequences of it.



Everyone is someone's loved one so are you really going to take a life and ruin who knows how many others all so you can placate your conscious? Is your feelings and conscious valued as much as a single human life?



What if by doing nothing, he stops the train so it kills no one as a way of illustrating that you proved yourself and won his game? That is also something you can't tell will happen by what is provided.

 

[Jazzy]

Hats off to Bluezone777.

 

[Sinon]

I wouldn't do a thing. By not acting, I am not the cause. If I were to flip the switch, I would be a killer as I made the choice to kill.