you see an out-of-control trolley-car plunging downhill at a group of five people who are walking along the track, with their backs to the trolley. they are too far away for you to be able to shout a warning that they will hear. the only way to save them is to throw a switch which will divert the trolley-car onto an alternate track. however, a lone hiker is walking along this alternate track, also with his back to the trolley-car, and also out of shouting range.
to sum up: your options are to do nothing and let the five die, or throw the switch and cause the death of the lone hiker.
do you throw the switch? why, or why not?
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Originally posted by BlackampThrow the switch, because it is a lesser of two evils.
you see an out-of-control trolley-car plunging downhill at a group of five people who are walking along the track, with their backs to the trolley. they are too far away for you to be able to shout a warning that they will hear. the only way to save them is to throw a switch which will divert the trolley-car onto an alternate track. however, a lone hiker is ...[text shortened]... w the switch and cause the death of the lone hiker.
do you throw the switch? why, or why not?
Originally posted by BlackampI reject the premis of your dilemma
you see an out-of-control trolley-car plunging downhill at a group of five people who are walking along the track, with their backs to the trolley. they are too far away for you to be able to shout a warning that they will hear. the only way to save them is to throw a switch which will divert the trolley-car onto an alternate track. however, a lone hiker is ...[text shortened]... w the switch and cause the death of the lone hiker.
do you throw the switch? why, or why not?
Originally posted by Bad wolfso it is purely a matter of weighing the consequences? a lot of people go with that view.
Throw the switch, because it is a lesser of two evils.
but how about this: if you do nothing, you are 'letting die', as opposed to killing. the five would have died anyway had you not been on the scene. but if you flick the switch, you will cause the death of the lone hiker, who would otherwise have lived.
Originally posted by reinfeldof course you can - they have switch levers by the side of the tracks where they branch. anyway, for the purposes of the problem it doesn't matter, Einstein. you still have to choose between killing one, and letting five die.
....you "cannot throw the switch"....if you "see" the out-of-control trolley ( you have to be in the trolley to throw the switch )....you are a devil trying to create discord among the foolish...i would throw you in front of the trolley and be done with you...
....okay smarty...then i put your head in the open part of the switch and then i throw it...i crush your skull and then the trolley bounces down the track when the circuit breaks and goes sideways and hits all six and your family gets sued but your relatives go to court and defend the lawsuit that it is against the law to sue the ugly as they have enough problems in life and the lawsuit is tossed out of court...
Originally posted by reinfeldphilosophy's not really your thing, is it?
....okay smarty...then i put your head in the open part of the switch and then i throw it...i crush your skull and then the trolley bounces down the track when the circuit breaks and goes sideways and hits all six and your family gets sued but your relatives go to court and defend the lawsuit that it is against the law to sue the ugly as they have enough problems in life and the lawsuit is tossed out of court...
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Originally posted by BlackampI would quite happily kill 1 to save 5 lives, assuming of course I didn't know them.
so it is purely a matter of weighing the consequences? a lot of people go with that view.
but how about this: if you do nothing, you are 'letting die', as opposed to killing. the five would have died anyway had you not been on the scene. but if you flick the switch, you will cause the death of the lone hiker, who would otherwise have lived.
edit: my grammar is atrocious.
Originally posted by BlackampIt depends, do I have my trusty gun with me? If so I can shoot at them and make them move, killing nobody (except maybe myself whan I plunge into the bay)😛
ok, so what if the five were strangers, but the other one was someone you cared very deeply about?
But seriously, I would sacrifice 1 to save 5.