Moral Question II

[cardinalslax]

my class was asked this question by my english teacher this year-

a freight train is going on the tracks too fast to stop it from hitting a group of people. the only thing that can be done is pull a lever that will divert it to a seperate track where it will kill only one person.
would you pull the lever? (nearly everyone said yes)

another train is headed for a group of people but there is no lever available. the only option is to push a man who is standing next to you in the trains path in order to stop the train (ignoring physics, he'll stop the train). would you push the man in front of the oncoming train? (most said no)

both scenarios accomplish the same goal but many answer yes to the first, and no to the second.
opinions?

[ccslax6]

I say yes to both.

[shooter]

Why not, instead of being cowardly and gutless, you (or anybody) jump in front of the second train yourself?

[CtLaxin]

1. Yes

2.Yes depending on the person next to me (if i knew them or not)

[lax21goalie2008]

1. Yes

2. Yes, especially if I didn't like that person.

[James]

Yes Yes


Sucks to be the guy who gets pushed in front of a train. Fortunately none of us have to worry about that because that situation would never arise. Especially inertia turning off and everything.

[laxgoalie89]

yes and
yes

[JazzyJake]

Sucks to be the guy who gets pushed in front of a train. Fortunately none of us have to worry about that because that situation would never arise. Especially inertia turning off and everything.

Ahahahaahahahah

[twin58]

I knew I'd seen that before. Similar threads:

Really hard question (moral stuff) (http://www.lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=35151)

Famous Philosophical Questions (http://www.lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=52403)

Question 2
A runaway trolley car is hurtling down a track. In its path are five people who will definitely be killed unless you, a bystander, flip a switch which will divert it on to another track, where it will kill one person. Should you flip the switch?

[Khaos]

No and no why would the people be on the tracks in the first place. if they are stupid enough to do that then they deserve to die

[aviator]

we where asked a similar question, think it might have been during a discussion for youth group at church though, only difference was that the one person on the other track was your son, and then we where asked about another similar question regarding being a bus driver, can't remember it exactly.

my answers though

1. probably, it would suck either way, but I would hope that one person realized he saved lives of many others
2. eh, I am assuming someone else would volunteer, it would suck to have to push someone

[tiplax]

No and no why would the people be on the tracks in the first place. if they are stupid enough to do that then they deserve to die

ok so the single guy standing on the tracks in the 1st question deserves to die also then

i say yes to both

[livin4lax09]

its the same idea as bombing a country vs. invading and engaging in combat.

[baseballsucks]

yes to both

but if i remember there was a question like this and most of you said you wouldnt kill 1 manto save others??

[tiplax]

yes to both

but if i remember there was a question like this and most of you said you wouldnt kill 1 manto save others??

it was would you kill a homeless man for 1million dollars(me and my friend(WPClax14, who started that thread) had a long discussion at camp about it)
if someone posted yes in this thread and no in the other they are contradicting them selves

[baseballsucks]

i know i said yes, that i would kill the homeless man in that thread. And i was thinking the exact same thing. that they would be contradicting themselves.

that makes 2 of us. anyone else agree???

[CTLaxer]

For everyone answering yes to these questions, congratulations, you've managed justify the concepts of slavery.

It's a classic ethics question in philosophy.

[ccslax6]

How is this slavery?

[FitzGoalie]

How is this slavery?

the unwilling suffering of some to protect the wellfare of many.

[EricL]

Yes and Yes, I do like oranges better than peaches.

[Laxguy93]

No and no why would the people be on the tracks in the first place. if they are stupid enough to do that then they deserve to die

thr darwin theory, eleminate the bad DNA from the world:guns: , i would says yes and yes though, i mean they're still people, have feelings and families....

[HdGLaxWarrior]

am i the only one that thinks senario #2 could be potentially more humane?

[tiplax]

am i the only one that thinks senario #2 could be potentially more humane?

more humane how? (i just don't see how)

and i guess if the group of people on the tracks was large enough, i would consider throwing my self in the way

[pole15]

yeah i forgot, just cause people say it's not a good theory, means it's not, sorry again

Not at all. People showed how your view was very flawed - and the fact that people disagreed with you doesn't make your idea 'wrong,' but the fact that you were unable to justify it against the criticism makes it a bit weak.

I'm sorry I can't have a discussion with someone who is irrational and/or has a IQ less than 80.

[HdGLaxWarrior]

more humane how? (i just don't see how)

and i guess if the group of people on the tracks was large enough, i would consider throwing my self in the way

i mean would rather see the train coming and have suffer watching it get closer and closer, or would you rather just not see it coming? if someone has to die think about the way they die i mean.

it's kind of like hunting, you don't want the animal to suffer so you try to make the best shot you can. or hitting a deer, you don't want the deer to wander off and lie for a few hours and agony waiting for death. that's why i always carry my knife and gun (in my truck, of course) on me at most times. i've had to slash a deers throat before.

[tiplax]

i mean would rather see the train coming and have suffer watching it get closer and closer, or would you rather just not see it coming? if someone has to die think about the way they die i mean.

it's kind of like hunting, you don't want the animal to suffer so you try to make the best shot you can. or hitting a deer, you don't want the deer to wander off and lie for a few hours and agony waiting for death. that's why i always carry my knife and gun (in my truck, of course) on me at most times. i've had to slash a deers throat before.

ok, i understand
and yeah that makes a lot of sense, i agree

[Ill_lax]

No and No
anyone who is standing on the train track for extended period of time and is waiting for the train, wants to die and should!!!

[CTLaxer]

In case anyone is wondering, there is no correct answer, much like with all questions of morality, philosophy or ethics.

The questions can be altered to the point of impossibility.

These types of questions are usually used to figure out what kind of philisophy someone adheres to such as utilitarianism, pacifism, etc etc.