(Please see part 2 when you have answered this question)
You are the driver of a tram (or trolley car) which the brakes have failed and on the track ahead you see a group of 6 men working on the rails who will all die if you hit them. Leading off to the right is another track which you can steer on to and there is 1 man working on the track there who would die if you hit.
The question is, would you steer to the right to save the majority?
2007-06-11 04:12:32 · 27 answers · asked by Robin the Electrocuted 5 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Part 2 - http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070611081431AA1jAb3&pa=FYd1D2bwHTHwLLtjE.4zRreWCxyFiUMwJk8oplfFVlNEXw--&paid=asked&msgr_status=
2007-06-11 04:15:19 · update #1
In absense of more information, I'd have to take the right track. Why would anyone not steer to save the majority?
2007-06-11 04:30:36 · answer #1 · answered by Malcolm D 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would steer toward the group of six men, as there is more chance of one of the six noticing the tram approaching and alerting the other five to get out of the way.
The lone man working may be too absorbed by his work to notice, and would certainly be hit with nobody to alert him.
2007-06-11 04:30:18 · answer #2 · answered by martinowens5173 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would do nothing as then i would no be directly responsible for killing the 6 men as i would be if i were to steer to the right, therefore i am safe from prosecution from the law as i am simply the bystander in the incident (unless i had nackered the brakes of course) i do not follow a utilitarian approach to ethical decision making (act or rule) and therfore i gives no baring to me as to the numbers just as long as i have had no part in the killing of innocent lives! Harsh but true.
2007-06-12 08:23:08 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would go down the gears and pull on the handbrake whilst blowing the horn.I would then steer towards the one man and jump out in case another tram was coming the other way.
2007-06-12 02:18:33 · answer #4 · answered by jugglermatt1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wait a minute--this is question of values. The natural tendecy would be to save the most people. But supposing the person
the driver sees is his wife or son or mother? What if the man were his father?
2007-06-12 00:49:38 · answer #5 · answered by henry d 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
These questions are actually kinda fun and interesting - much better than the typical 'what would you do' questions that for some reason end up in philosophy. Bravo.
You have to go with flattening the one dude to save many. And honk the horn.
2007-06-11 04:45:45 · answer #6 · answered by !@#%&! 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes
2007-06-11 04:24:34 · answer #7 · answered by Joey from Maine 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no id steer in to the 16 in case a train came at me on the other track killing everyone on two trains
2007-06-11 04:21:13 · answer #8 · answered by samman 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Guess we’d go for the single. Not afraid to take responsibility for our actions no matter how bad. But we’d try to save every one first maybe flip the trolley, maybe honk the horn really laud and hope they hear.
2007-06-11 04:20:29 · answer #9 · answered by grey_worms 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First technically you cant go to another track that is not in your hands.
Second I'll honk and go on in my own track, I think they can hear.
There may be another train on that track which can lead to to disastrous step
2007-06-11 07:07:39 · answer #10 · answered by The More I learn The More I'm Uneducated 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋