Your death for the greater good?

Question

If you KNEW that your death will save a loved one (parent, spouse, sibling, child), would you sacrifice yourself or let them go? For instance: If you were crossing the street with a loved one and a car was going to run over you and kill you both but you could either jump out of the way and watch the other die or push them out of the way knowing your death is certain, which would you choose? And why?

Some of you arent reading the question properly. Either you die or they do. You cant save both. You have to choose.

Answer 1

Survival is the most powerful human instinct.

I don't even want to envision myself in that position, so I won't get the 10 points because I'm not technically answering the question. But I do have some comments.

The people who say they would sacrifice their lives for another? They probably mean it, but it is unlikely anybody would actually do that. Perhaps given enough time to react, they could make the conscious choice to give up their life for their loved one. Of course, if there was enough time for that, there's enough time for both to survive.

Basically, human nature will cause an "every man for himself" mentality in that situation. No time to think, no time for choices. Just a flood of hormones, a reaction, and a result.

Answer 2

wow, very perplexing. I suppose it would all have to do with what benefit i thought i had over this other person, what i could do to better the world per se and the attachment i had to this person. I would like to say self sacrifice would be the right and couragous thing to do, but i dont know it would always be like that. In term of a total stranger i would have to say no unless it was an accident and i didnt mean to be there. In terms of a loved one, I would only say i hope i would but that is still left up to future Me. Very good question and im sure you got some good feedback.....

Answer 3

I think that it is an instinct to save someone in a situation like the one mentioned above.
Most of all in the case of parent and child. The parent will always save the child. Many heroes that do certain crazy acts of compassion to save someone elses life often say (when asked later) that they didn't have time to think about their action. They just did it. It is an impuls. A reaction.

Answer 4

I would like to think that I would do what I could to save the life of the other person regardless of the risk to my life, I know that self preservation is a strong instinct though. It would be very difficult for me to say for sure - not having been or being in those circumstances- I might think of the other person or panic and freeze completely. One never really knows unless they actually face the situation.

Answer 5

I would push them out of the way and lay down super quick ! Just like Superman or something ! I think that I would save them because I am a nice guy!

Answer 6

I think most people would instinctively push the other person out of the way. But looking at it that way despite your question, both might be saved if they both instinctively push the other out of the way.

Answer 7

I would do anything for someone I love. Of course, I would not die, since I would push us both out of the way.

Answer 8

As a father, I value the life of my daughter much more than my own in the sense that I have already experienced a full life, and she deserves the same.

So, yes, I would die for her - without hesitation.

Answer 9

I doubt I would even consider my life when it came to someone I love.... without hesitation I would try to save the other person...... probably I would do for a stranger

Answer 10

I think that I would push them out of the way. I think it would be an automatic response without thinking. I believe most people would react this way.