The Trolley Problem - 1420 Words

1 Explain the Trolley Driver, Bystander at the Switch, Fat Man, Transplant, Hospital scenarios discussed in the The Trolley Problem reading. In doing so, address what the ethical issue(s) are in each of these scenarios. The trolley problem can be expanded to discuss a number of related ethical dilemmas, all referring to the conflicts inherent in utilitarianism and consequentialist ethics. The problem with the trolley driver scenario is that the driver is faced with a choice of whether to infringe on the rights of one man (the man on the tracks) or whether to allow the trolley to crash, thereby killing the five people on board. The driver is stuck between two equally unfortunate situations, and the issue calls into question whether it is more ethical to save five lives than it is to refrain from infringing on the life on an innocent man. Inherent to the problem is the fact that it is impossible to know whether the diversion of the trolley will in fact save the five lives. In the alternative scenario involving the Bystander at the Switch, the actor in question is not the driver but a person who has the ability to pull the lever that will divert the trolley towards one workman, versus the five workmen that will be killed if no action is taken. The dilemma is only slightly different from the original involving the onus on the driver. Either way points to the fundamental ethic of killing one to save five, and whether to do so would be the ethical choice. The differenceShow MoreRelatedThe Trolley Problem, by Judith Jarvis Thomson768 Words   |  4 PagesThe Bystander at the Switch case is a fundamental part of Thomson’s argument in â€Å"Trolley Problem.† The basis of her paper is to explain the moral difference between this case, which she deems morally permissible (1398), and the Transplant case, which she deems morally impermissible (1396). In the Bystander at the Switch case, a bystander sees a trolley hurtling towards five workers on th e track and has the option of throwing a switch to divert the trolley’s path towards only one worker. Thomson findsRead MoreWhat Is And Isn t Owned. Thomson And The Trolley Problem973 Words   |  4 PagesWhat is and isn’t owned Thomson and the Trolley Problem Most people think that killing is worse than letting die. The latter is a fact. Throughout her essay, Thomson explores this idea and comes to the surprising conclusion that it is sometimes permissible to kill instead of letting die. This along with the famous Trolley Problem, first introduced by Philippa Foot, as well as a few other examples and variations, leave the reader with ambiguity on the subject: exactly under which circumstances isRead MoreThe Trolley Problems875 Words   |  4 PagesThe Trolley problems are unique in that the two cases are two morally different ways of presenting the same dilemma. The key difference between the switch case and the platform case is the directness of the consequences of one’s actions. I will argue using Kant’s deontological ethical theory why one should pull the lever but not push the backpacker because of the different affects on morality that arises with the change in role you play in each scenario. When presented with the switch case a utilitarianistRead MoreThe Trolley Dilemma By Philippa Foot812 Words   |  4 PagesThe trolley dilemma was first created by Philippa Foot The Problem of Abortion and the Doctrine of the Double Effect in 1967 as a thought experiment on ethics, it then evolutionized into what we know today. Making us question human morality, write books annually and hold worldwide presentations. I will explain the trolley dilemma and how Mill’s Theory of Utility is the best way to approach this problem, helping us attain the answer with the best moral outcome. The questionRead MoreThe Trolley Problem Essay2004 Words   |  9 PagesThe Trolley Problem is set up in two parts. The first part of this problem puts the reader in a passive position to choose between shoving a large person onto the track causing one person to die to save the five other people and refraining and doing nothing would allow the five to die and the one person to live. The second part of this scenario would put Frank in a very personal position to choose to do something about the situation at hand, or to let five people die; or deliberately push a largeRead MoreWhat does Utilitarianism Has to do with a Surgeon1566 Words   |  7 Pagessaved (Degrees of clarity, n.d.). Considering the situation, then it will result into a one-to-five cost-to-advantage ratio, which is not just preponderance, but only weightily so. Here it is important to discuss about Foot’s views as he avoids the problem by saying that the doctrine of doing as well as allowing draws more moral distinction specifically between the actions which we wilfully execute and also the ones we which we allow to take place. In this case, it can be said that it is morally soundRead MoreThe Trolley Problem Of The Monist1624 Words   |  7 PagesJudith Jarvis Thomson presents an ethical dilemma entitled The Trolley Problem in The Monist. The problem describes a situation in which a trolley car is moving quickly and out of control on a train track towards five people who are tied to the tracks; you have the power to pull a lever, change the direction of the trolley car and save those five people – at the expense of the life of one person who is on the track the car was diverted to (Thomson 1397). The choice to be made is not just aboutRead MoreThe Doctrine of Double Effect2090 Words   |  8 Pagesserious problems with app lying these tests in the real world. In the real world, people can lie about their intentions and they may not even realize what they are intending. People do not actually act with a knowledge of what effects will be caused by their actions. These standards can easily be manipulated by a person attempting to justify their actions and this has been done in many instances. A scenario commonly used to explain the Doctrine of Double Effect is called the â€Å"trolley problem.† In thisRead MoreEthics Course : The Trolley Problem1487 Words   |  6 Pagesthought experiment that we were given is known as the â€Å"Trolley Problem† and it is split into two parts. In the first part of the problem we have an empty out of control trolley going down the rail track. If the trolley continues to go down the track it will run over and kill 5 unfortunate people who are tied down to the tracks. You are too far away to get to the track but you do have the power to flip a lever that will change the route of the trolley to a second track. This second track has a single personRead MoreEthical Issues Of The Trolley Problem1932 Words   |  8 Pagesthe wheels are: Trolley problem debated The majors concern of any automobile companies and even the passengers is safety. There has being many ethical debates concerning how the safety of the driverless cars will be engineer. This typical question lead to trolley problem. The scholars debated that how will car deal with the issue of ethical dilemma, how will it be engineer to decide. For instance, an experiment was discussed where a decision need to be made on a runaway trolley, speeding down a