1. santa cruz, ca.
    Joined
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    376505
    06 Nov '15 19:29
    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?
  2. The Ghost Chamber
    Joined
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    28602
    06 Nov '15 19:35
    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?
  3. Mar-a-Lago
    Joined
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    8962
    06 Nov '15 19:35
    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
  4. Standard memberwolfgang59
    Quiz Master
    RHP Arms
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    09 Jun '07
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    48793
    06 Nov '15 19:50
    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" ?
  5. santa cruz, ca.
    Joined
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    376505
    06 Nov '15 19:56
    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
  6. The Ghost Chamber
    Joined
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    06 Nov '15 20:00
    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.
  7. Subscriberroma45
    st johnstone
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    06 Nov '15 20:03
    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
  8. Standard memberSeitse
    Doug Stanhope
    That's Why I Drink
    Joined
    01 Jan '06
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    33672
    06 Nov '15 20:261 edit
    The trolley problem.

    YouTube
  9. SubscriberDrewnogal
    Constant Gardener
    The Plot
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    06 Nov '15 22:12

    This post is unavailable.

    Please refer to our posting guidelines.

  10. Joined
    16 Jan '07
    Moves
    326101
    06 Nov '15 22:181 edit
    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?
  11. santa cruz, ca.
    Joined
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    376505
    06 Nov '15 22:30
    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
  12. santa cruz, ca.
    Joined
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    376505
    06 Nov '15 22:46
    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?
  13. Joined
    29 Dec '08
    Moves
    6788
    06 Nov '15 22:56
    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.
  14. Standard memberwolfgang59
    Quiz Master
    RHP Arms
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    09 Jun '07
    Moves
    48793
    06 Nov '15 23:03
    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)
  15. Joined
    10 Jan '08
    Moves
    16942
    06 Nov '15 23:45
    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.
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