Philosophy students are well versed with the idea that morality is very ambiguous and related to the emotional center of the brain, even if it is irrational to do something.
The Trolley problem - - A trolley is out of control down a track. In its path are five people who have been tied to the track by a mad philosopher. Fortunately, you could flip a switch, which will lead the trolley down a different track to safety. Unfortunately, there is a single person tied to that track. Should you flip the switch or do nothing?
Now,
- 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?
In the first case, most people are ok letting the single person die, so they will flip the switch. But in the second case, which is rationally the same thing as the first, they will let the five people die.
Labels: morality, philosophy
