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what would you do? a question of ethics

what would you do? a question of ethics

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a friend is walking down some railroad track unaware that a train is approaching
on another track are two strangers
you could save your friend by diverting the train
but it would kill the two strangers
what would you do?

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Originally posted by lemondrop
a friend is walking down some railroad track unaware that a train is approaching
on another track are two strangers
you could save your friend by diverting the train
but it would kill the two strangers
what would you do?
Do i owe the friend money?

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Originally posted by lemondrop
a friend is walking down some railroad track unaware that a train is approaching
on another track are two strangers
you could save your friend by diverting the train
but it would kill the two strangers
what would you do?
Wish I had a friend

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Originally posted by lemondrop
a friend is walking down some railroad track unaware that a train is approaching
on another track are two strangers
you could save your friend by diverting the train
but it would kill the two strangers
what would you do?
Is it a "friend with benefits" ?

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I would choose my friend however
the choice would become much more difficult if a child was substituted for the two strangers

joking is welcome but some serious discussion would be nice

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Originally posted by lemondrop
I would choose my friend however
the choice would become much more difficult if a child was substituted for the two strangers

joking is welcome but some serious discussion would be nice
As much as i would like to save my friend, i don't think i would take any action if it led to the deaths of others, even strangers.

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Originally posted by lemondrop
a friend is walking down some railroad track unaware that a train is approaching
on another track are two strangers
you could save your friend by diverting the train
but it would kill the two strangers
what would you do?
i would pick option C

slow the train to a halt by throwing forum moderators under the wheels, hopefully get them all

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The trolley problem.

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Originally posted by lemondrop
a friend is walking down some railroad track unaware that a train is approaching
on another track are two strangers
you could save your friend by diverting the train
but it would kill the two strangers
what would you do?
Why can you only save the friend or the two strangers? Why couldn't you alert the whole lot at once?

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Originally posted by Startreader
Why can you only save the friend or the two strangers? Why couldn't you alert the whole lot at once?
introducing another option makes the question irrelevant
choosing makes the question of ethics relevant

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Originally posted by lemondrop
introducing another option makes the question irrelevant
choosing makes the question of ethics relevant
I'll make it more interesting
how many strangers would you sacrifice for your own child?

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Originally posted by lemondrop
a friend is walking down some railroad track unaware that a train is approaching
on another track are two strangers
you could save your friend by diverting the train
but it would kill the two strangers
what would you do?
A clean and uncomplicated variant on the Trolley Problem. I don't know what I would do.

I think based on only the information given, there are two moral questions raised. The first is whether an act of commission (in this case, diverting the train) is in itself morally equivalent, morally better, or morally worse than not taking action. I think that they are morally equivalent.

The second is whether letting one die to avoid the death of two is morally justified by friendship with the one. I don't think it is, but I would definitely be torn.

It might depend on the strength of the relationship, such as marriage, parent/child, etc. Having made a personal lifetime commitment to the well being of another, which is itself morally permissible, might control.

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Originally posted by lemondrop
I would choose my friend however
the choice would become much more difficult if a child was substituted for the two strangers

joking is welcome but some serious discussion would be nice
Spirituality or Debates would be better.

I have my GF hat on here. (Its pink with lime green polka dots)

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I don't know anyone stupid enough to be standing in the middle of a train track who is unable to move away at the sound of a train coming. I'd have to assume they were trying to kill themselves and let them have their wish.