Three Trolley Problems

What would you do in the first instance? Would you do the same in the other two instances? Why or why not?

1. A trolley is running out of control down a track. In its path are 5 people who have been tied to the track by a mad philosopher. Fortunately, you can flip a switch which will lead the trolley down a different track. Unfortunately, there is a single person tied to that track. Should you flip the switch? (Philippa Foot)

2. As before, a trolley is hurtling down a track towards five people. You are on a bridge under which it will pass, and you can stop it by dropping a heavy weight in front of it. As it happens, there is a very fat man next to you - your only way to stop the trolley is to push him over the bridge and onto the track, killing him to save five. Should you proceed? (J.J. Thomson)

3. As before, a trolley is hurtling down a track towards five people. You can divert its path by colliding another trolley into it, but if you do, both will be derailed and go down a hill, across a road, and into a man's yard. The owner, sleeping in his hammock, will be killed. Should you proceed? (Peter Unger)

From Wikipedia, "Trolley Problem"

Comments

[Hoodlumman]

Another reason not to live in San Francisco.

[Rob B.]

In case one, I fortunately carry a stick of dynamite with me everywhere I go after some bad luck spelunking. I would blow the trolley to hell, saving everyone except the 3rd of the 5 tied to the rail, whom I would leave as a sacrafice to the Sun God Amon Ra.

In case two, I would get the fat guy help me find a heavy weight because my back isn't what it used to be.

In case three, I would definently let the trollies collide. I bet the wreck would be cool. Then I would go down where the guy in the hammock died and see if he had a wife. If he did, was she hot? If she is, then it's my old testament duty to marry her on the spot and add her to my harem. I'm sure that my current wife would be mad at first but she would get over it because after all her first husband died in a dynamited cave accident.

[Scott P]

My answers: Flip, push, and collide while filming.

[prairie biker]

How about this:

If you suck so bad you lose an arrow when you miss a deer at 50 yards in plain daylight, should you try again at the same distance at dusk and risk another arrow?

[CraigC]

Reminds me of a story my dad used to tell.

Two good ol' boys are sitting by the train tracks one day shooting the breeze, when off in the distance they see a train coming towards town. At that moment, they see another train heading out of town, and they realize that they're both on the same track. One guy says, "Sheeit, they musta had the wrong switch throwed!"

The other one says, "Yo're right!", jumps up, and starts running.

First guy says, "Y'all goin' to warn 'em?"

Second guy says, "Naw, I'm goin to git mah brother. He ain't never seen a train wreck."

[Julie]

Rob, yer killin me. Your poor wife's first husband.

[gail]

I like Matt's ethical problem. If anybody can think up some good, complicated, freaky ones, send them to me and I'll post them.

[prairie biker]

Ethical hell. I missed both times. Now I gotta go back out in the bright bright daylight and find both damn arrows.

I'm thinking about re-sighting the stupid bow too.

[Jake]

When faced with several very unpleasant options, I think many people would simply do nothing at all rather than take responsibility by making a choice and taking action.

[dorkafork]

Sophie's Trolley:

A trolley is running out of control down a track. In its path are 5 people you don't know who have been tied to the track by a mad philosopher. Fortunately, you can flip a switch which will lead the trolley down a different track. Unfortunately, there is a single person tied to that track: your spouse. Should you flip the switch?

I was going to say I think I'm a pretty pure utilitarian. I thought the proper response to all three was pretty obvious. And I think the utilitarian response to this version is obvious, but...