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Moral Intuitions Scenario #1

You are standing by a switch which will change the track a train is traveling on. On the track in which the train is heading are four people who do not see the train coming. You can flip the switch to save them, but this would put the train on a track with one person standing on it. You cannot call out to them or save them in any other way - if you do nothing, four people will die, and if you take action, one person will die. What do you do?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tony Carroll on May 12, 2012 at 9:36pm

I throw the switch. To quote Spock, " The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few...or the one ".

Permalink Reply by Jedi Wanderer on May 12, 2012 at 9:39pm

Lol, how... logical! Let's see how this logic holds up in scenario #2 though! I'll wait for a few more responses first before I post it though. You'll just have to be patient. :-)

Permalink Reply by Tony Carroll on May 12, 2012 at 9:44pm

Jedi, I know you're up to something, fess up dude. Yes,it was logical inthis situation, almost a no brainer. I would still have a problem with it, but I think it would be the right thing to do. As Geddy Lee says "Even if you make no choice, you still have made a choice".

Permalink Reply by Jedi Wanderer on May 12, 2012 at 9:51pm

Indeed I am! I will get there, I promise. This is actually the beginning of a well-known series of "intuition-pumps" that philosophers use to try to get at the kind of moral reasoning that people use, and to see whether there is a logic to it, whether it is coherent or contradictory, so that we can understand what morality really is better. But it's pretty amazing how fast people's moral reasoning unravels, so it does make one wonder how logical morality really is. Let's just wait for one or two more responses before I post the next one, or one or two days, whichever comes first.

Permalink Reply by Tony Carroll on May 12, 2012 at 9:56pm

I'm willing to wait, my friend. You might have to wait on me, too. I work for the next three days, 12 hr. shifts. And since I usually walk to/from work to get in my exercise, I usually get home around 8:00 p.m. CST U.S. But I can be patient. Be well, my friend.

Permalink Reply by Jedi Wanderer on May 12, 2012 at 9:59pm

Very good, 3 days it is then. I'll make sure the next scenario is posted by sometime Wednesday at the latest, supposing nobody else jumps in here. Have fun at work! ;-)

Permalink Reply by Tony Carroll on May 12, 2012 at 10:03pm

Will do. Keep the home fires burning, and the cat in the yard.

Permalink Reply by Steph S. on May 12, 2012 at 10:27pm

I jumped in .. Do get a prize?

Permalink Reply by Jedi Wanderer on May 12, 2012 at 10:33pm

Lol! Sure Steph, um... wait, you're seeing the Avengers?! Isn't that prize enough? Or how about just knowing that you "did the right thing" by saving those 4 poor people who almost got killed by a train? Let's just see whether Joan or Jonathan wanna take a stab at this (heh), then I'll post the second scenario.

Permalink Reply by Steph S. on May 12, 2012 at 10:43pm

No rush ... I was just joking.

Permalink Reply by Jedi Wanderer on May 12, 2012 at 10:46pm

Yeah, I know, me too!

Permalink Reply by Tony Carroll on May 12, 2012 at 10:34pm

No, but I do. I get to chat with one of my favorite people here, you. Enjoy the movie. I have been working so much I haven't had the time to see it. My son and daughter-in-law are gushing over it, planning to go again when I'm off so we can see it together.