A Matter of Ethics

[murphy71984]

I know there was some similar "What would you do?" question posted but I would like to gather thoughts on this one regarding a scenario I received for my Ethics class.

There is a train coming and there is only one switch to change the direction of the train from the right track to the left track. On the left track, one person is tied down and on the right, 5 people are tied down. If you leave the lever alone, the train will kill the 5 people. If you switch the lever, it will kill that one person.

Details:

The one person is a loved one of yours (a mom, a dad, a sibling, a wife, whatever...)

The 5 consist of 1 child (a girl), 1 doctor, a pregnant woman (so 2), and a priest.

You have only 5 seconds to decide. And no, you aren't Superman. Your only choice is the lever.

So A) Save the 5 people which results in the death of your loved one or B) Let the train keep going, therefore, killing the 5.

My reasoning would be to leave the lever alone and let destiny (if you believe in that sort of thing) take its course. No, I am not choosing my loved one over 5 innocent people, but rather just standing idely by. (Maybe I'm in shock?!) Also, I think by changing the track the word 'killing' would quickly change to murder. Hmmm...grrr..what are your thoughts and what would you do?

[nextgenxbox]

So is the train going on a straight track and if you don't choose will it just continue to go straight? Is the train empty (no passengers)?

God I hate these questions.

[_sorrow_]

I'd switch the lever and take out the loved one -- sounds really dark when its said as simply as that, doesn't it?

I'd choose this because, sure i love that person, but imagine how many people love those any (or all) of those 5 people? Not to mention that one of them is a pregnant woman, so that could (and i'm not saying i think it does, or does not) count as two people. And for the sake of simplicity, lets assume the priest is not one of the child molesting types :p

With that decision, you become a hero to the world, a monster to your friends, and ready to kill yourself at the end of your glorious "hero" week. Maybe that last part is just me, but that would be my plan, regardless of whether or not influenced the lever.

[ariastar]

I have one loved-one, blood-family-wise, left. Having already seen my dad's grisly death, I wouldn't need to see my mom die. I'll be selfish here and take my mom.

Besides, the priest would probably molest the child and the pregnant woman's baby and guilt the doctor into lying about the medical exams.

[murphy71984]

The train will hit the 5 if you don't pull the lever. So if it keeps going straight, the 5 will die.

You know nothing about the people than what I've told you. I know people like to add details but what I told you is all that you know. No, the priest isn't a child molestor. If he was, why should they have to die because he is evil? :)

I failed to mention that the train is a freight train, so no, no passengers.

[bird603568]

oh then i would pull it 1/2 way and derail it. thats a win win

[rowlodge]

a similar situation where your in a plane crash it's about to explode and you have to get as many people out including your parents in 5 seconds. i would obviously get my mom or dad off first not really worry about the others because i don't know what there situation is. because there is too much smoke and commotion. it's more realistic and less set up.

[tokenuser]

I think the real question here isn't what you would do, but what would Jack Bauer do.

He'd derail the freight train, or have Chloe switch the signal from Go to Stop (train tracks have traffic signals).

[pamich]

Set the switch so it's in the middle. Either it will derail, or I'm blameless for who gets run over.

[murphy71984]

The derailment will kill everyone...

[pamich]

The derailment will kill everyone...

Impossible. If there are paths to the left and right and the train derails straight, it only sucks for the train.

[tokenuser]

These sort of hypothetical ethics questions are supposed to be answered with a traditional A) or B) response ... and are great in philosophy departments, but geeks are natural problem solvers. Told that there is an A and a B choice, we will try to come up with creative options that result in a WIN/WIN, and choose C) neither - then derail the train.

[murphy71984]

These sort of hypothetical ethics questions are supposed to be answered with a traditional A) or B) response ... and are great in philosophy departments, but geeks are natural problem solvers. Told that there is an A and a B choice, we will try to come up with creative options that result in a WIN/WIN, and choose C) neither - then derail the train.

Yeah, no kidding. Why not just answer the question and explain your reasoning?

How about this: The switch is in the middle where the tracks will split. If you derail it, it will keep straight and kill you...now that would save everyone! (except for you of course...)

[_sorrow_]

Yeah, no kidding. Why not just answer the question and explain your reasoning?

How about this: The switch is in the middle where the tracks will split. If you derail it, it will keep straight and kill you...now that would save everyone! (except for you of course...)

well hell if the choice is my death versus anyone else, i'm changing my answer! :p

[tokenuser]

Yeah, no kidding. Why not just answer the question and explain your reasoning?

How about this: The switch is in the middle where the tracks will split. If you derail it, it will keep straight and kill you...now that would save everyone! (except for you of course...)That the issue with philosophical questions - instead of allowing creative answers, they redefine the question so that its a lose/lose question. No wonder there is no creative thought in this country any more.

[murphy71984]

Life isn't always a win/win situation.

I guess I thought I'd get some sensible answers/responses as to why you would save your loved one or why you would save the 5 people, but I should have known I wouldn't get much of either. Especially where people always try to be witty and smart-assed with their comments.

This thread can die now. Kthx.

[pamich]

Yeah, no kidding. Why not just answer the question and explain your reasoning?

How about this: The switch is in the middle where the tracks will split. If you derail it, it will keep straight and kill you...now that would save everyone! (except for you of course...)

Nope. We have 5 seconds, plenty of time to jump to the side.

[tokenuser]

Sitting in front of a computer screen, with no risk, allows us to analyse the situation, and think outside the box (problem solving).

These questions ignore two crucial factors - the emotional response, and the time factor.

Hmmm .... a serious response? Taking into consideration the time/emotional response factors?

A) Leave the track as is, save the 5 people, and live with the guilt of allowing my wife to die and the consequences of her death.

The greater question then becomes how you deal with the impact of your decision. Commit suicide 6 months later after anti depression medications and alcohol make no difference? Saving the 5 people then goes on to destroy the lives of other people.

So - given the emotional response, asking Jack Bauer what he would do is a much better option.

[masherscf]

Letting strangers die through inaction is a common human experience. It wouldn't be hard to live in denial that what happened wasn't you're fault.

I'm not sure why this question is considered hard.

[xtremefx]

put it half way,switch as train is on it,dont care if all 6 die lol,if you cant save either,then kill em all

[pamich]

put it half way,switch as train is on it,dont care if all 6 die lol,if you cant save either,then kill em all

This is why you don't make important decisions.

[trashcan]

This is why you don't make important decisions.

Or readable sentences.

[murphy71984]

So - given the emotional response, asking Jack Bauer what he would do is a much better option.

Jack Bauer once shot a man to save others....hmmm....he'd prolly kill his daughter if it came down to it.

[popltree2]

Jack Bauer FTW! Sorry...Um, is putting myself in the way of the train an option?

[tokenuser]

I heard an email from a guy voting in St Louis, on BBC World News via NPR this morning, that basically said that "voting between Rebuplicans and Democrats this year is like trying to choose between gangene and amputation."

Similar issue to the train I guess ... there are no winners, only people that didn't lose quite as much.

[pamich]

I heard an email from a guy voting in St Louis, on BBC World News via NPR this morning, that basically said that "voting between Rebuplicans and Democrats this year is like trying to choose between gangene and amputation."

Similar issue to the train I guess ... there are no winners, only people that didn't lose quite as much.

I heard a similar quote about voting in Congo.

[synack]

Sup,

Stand on the tracks and let the train take YOU out. The driver will freak

and stop. You die but others will live, then again, shit happens.

synack.