For those of you that don't listen to 'This American Life' on NPR (and I know that's an alarmingly high percentage), I've got an ethical exercise for you. Two hypothetical scenarios/questions. Give it an honest shot. No fancy tricks here. Answer the first question before moving on to the second.
Scenario #1
Imagine you are standing at the top of a cliff. Down below are some train tracks. And in the distance are 5 guys working on the tracks.
Suddenly, you notice a train coming in the distance. It's heading directly for the 5 workers who have their backs to the train. You just know that if something doesn't happen, they will be hit by the train and killed. And you're so far away, they can't hear you yelling to warn them.
Just then, you notice a fork in the train tracks and, on the other track, a single worker with his back to the train. The lever to switch the train to the other track is right next to you.
Question: Do you throw the switch--changing the direction of the train? It will kill the single worker instead of the 5.
Scenario #2
Ok, similar scenario here. You're on the cliff with the tracks below. The same 5 workers have their backs turned.
But in this scenario, there's no fork in the tracks. Instead, there is a big guy looking over the edge of the cliff next to you.
You know that if you give the big guy a *little* nudge, he will fall, land on the tracks and stop the train. Yes, the fall will kill him, but the 5 workers will again be spared.
Question: Do you push the guy?
Analysis
Did your answers between the two scenarios change? If so, why? What is the difference?
16 comments:
When does "This American Life" air and does it always have such eff'ed up questions on it?
Is the the single worker with his back to the train wealthier than the 5 other guys? If not my chances of a reward is greater with saving the 5 guys.
It airs at different times depending on which NPR member station you listen to. You can go to NRP.org, find your station and they will likely have a program schedule.
Or, if you're as big of a nerd as I am, you can subscribe to it as a podcast on iTunes.
What? No iPod? What's a "Zume"?
Anyway, you can find other ways to subscribe or download it at ThisAmericanLife.org.
I listen to NPR in the morning until Diane Ream comes on (her impression of Katherine Hepburn drives me nuts) and then come back to it in the afternoon for Talk of the Nation, Fresh Air and All Things Considered. Then I go home and watch Hardball and Countdown on MSNBC to get my biased, bleeding heart liberal slant on the news.
I also mix in trips to USAToday.com, WashingtonPost.com and Crooksandliars.com.
what, Fark.com isn't good enough for you as a news source? ;)
For me it all depends on who the people are. If the one person was Mark or someone else I care about there is no way I could let them die. Same goes for the five.
No one has the balls to just answer the questions? C'mon people. I would always look for another solution but given none, I would save the five by flipping the switch. I would not push a guy off a clif, however. That seems more murderous to me.
Thanks for pointing out the bloop's lack of testicular-fortitude.
Yes, pushing the guy seems more "murderous". But why? In both scenarios you are directly, willfully causing the death of an unsuspecting person to save 5 others. Why the difference? (that's the point of the question)
And, no, Candice. This isn't Mark. Everyone in this hypothetical are strangers. No friends, husbands or bunk-mates from Camp Morningwood allowed here.
The difference is the direct pushing. I suppose you could akin it to pulling the trigger or hiring someone to do it for you. Or stabbing someone to death or dropping a bomb over a village. People drop bombs without being charged for murder. Is it right? No. It is what it is.
Well, I suppose I should increase the dork-factor around here, and quote Spock with "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few." Either solution where you kill the one guy (regardless of means) to save the 5 is a good solution, but few would have the fortitude to do so. And at the other end of the spectrum is the possibility of doing nothing in both cases. "Who the hell am I to play God, and decides whose life/lives are most valuable?"
A fascinating thought exercise. I will take that one into work with me.
triathlete singles [url=http://loveepicentre.com/]popularity of internet dating sites[/url] uk dating agency http://loveepicentre.com/ disability dating service
http://online-health.in/benfotiamine/benfotiamine-structure
[url=http://online-health.in/atarax/side-effects-of-atarax]articles about elicit drugs[/url] us food and drug ad [url=http://online-health.in/bactrim/allergic-reactions-to-bactrim]allergic reactions to bactrim[/url]
pmogranite and drug interactions http://online-health.in/atomoxetine/atomoxetine
[url=http://online-health.in/bentyl/buy-bentyl-online]can apple juice be substatuded on drug test[/url] madison pain drug bust [url=http://online-health.in/aristocort/aristocort-inhaler]aristocort inhaler[/url]
drugs thatcontain thc http://online-health.in/arava/arava-prescribing-information
[url=http://online-health.in/avandia/avandia-or-rosiglitazone]prescription drug discount cards[/url] generic drug changes medco 2008 [url=http://online-health.in/arimidex/arimidex-side-effects]arimidex side effects[/url] louisiana board of pharmacy [url=http://online-health.in/bactrim]bactrim[/url]
very first automobile http://automotoportal.in/mini-auto/super-fast-mini-bike mercedes vivid
[url=http://automotoportal.in/peugeot]mercedes benz encino[/url] pc based auto diag [url=http://automotoportal.in/motor-com/blower-motor-oo6330v03dp044]blower motor oo6330v03dp044[/url]
automobile production per year http://automotoportal.in/mercury/torque-converter-mercury-mountaineer
[url=http://automotoportal.in/mitsubishi]auto painting sarasota florida[/url] national automobile rental [url=http://automotoportal.in/morgan/all-captain-morgan-stuff]all captain morgan stuff[/url]
cheltenham festival horse racing http://automotoportal.in/mini-car
[url=http://automotoportal.in/motorcycle-show]mecum auto auction[/url] automobile dripping rusty water on driveway [url=http://automotoportal.in/rover]rover[/url]
pelican 1527 travel bag review http://atravel.in/airlines_airlines-out-of-youngstown-ohio speaker travel trends
[url=http://atravel.in/tours_haunted-chicago-tours]allegen air travel[/url] adventure travel costa rica scuba [url=http://atravel.in/expedia_expedia-media-based-pricing]expedia media based pricing[/url]
documentation needed for travel to canada http://atravel.in/car-rental_alamo-rental-car-luton-airport
[url=http://atravel.in/airport_leeds-bradford-airport-tristar-accident-may-85-leeds-united]travel to cananda from united states[/url] travel agents in brazil [url=http://atravel.in/airlines_airlines-flying-out-of-detroit]airlines flying out of detroit[/url]
penndot travel advisory http://atravel.in/flight_horde-flight-point-terokkar homeland security travel [url=http://atravel.in/lufthansa_boeing-757-200]boeing 757 200[/url]
amerian express travel dearborn mi http://greatadventures.in/cruises/interline-cruises-discount mexico escorted travel
[url=http://greatadventures.in/lufthansa/thai-international-airways]vacaville travel[/url] india travel information [url=http://greatadventures.in/disneyland/disneyland-and-aaa-discount]disneyland and aaa discount[/url]
cross country motorcycle travel http://greatadventures.in/airport/car-parks-at-luton-airport
[url=http://greatadventures.in/flight/round-world-flight-brisbane-moscow]greek travel guide matt[/url] san antonio to zacatecas mexico travel map [url=http://greatadventures.in/tours/underground-tours-paris]underground tours paris[/url]
new york to ct travel http://greatadventures.in/vacation-packages/branson-day-labor-package-vacation-htm banff affordable travel [url=http://greatadventures.in/airport/boston-logan-airport-hotel-shuttle]boston logan airport hotel shuttle[/url]
val flash auto paint http://latestcarnews.in/seat/car-seat-laws-in-texas tires for a volkswagen beetle
[url=http://latestcarnews.in/triumph/triumph-valve-job]barrett jackson auto show[/url] deutsch volkswagen reviews [url=http://latestcarnews.in/smart/smart-surplus]smart surplus[/url]
mercedes vans stafford http://latestcarnews.in/toyotas/toyota-of-vancouver
[url=http://latestcarnews.in/saab/saab-z-engine-family]ron davis racing products[/url] kalamazoo auto racing series [url=http://latestcarnews.in/lexus/veracruz-vs-lexus-rx350]veracruz vs lexus rx350[/url]
automobile clocks http://latestcarnews.in/lancia/lancia-lambda-airway-saloon
[url=http://latestcarnews.in/rally/rally-of-the-lakes]morganton auto mart[/url] auto bike [url=http://latestcarnews.in/toyotas/toyota-paseo-owners-manual]toyota paseo owners manual[/url]
medium travel wheelie http://wikitravel.in/map/map-of-the-united-states-and-canada weekly travel cards london uk
[url=http://wikitravel.in/tourist/tourist-attractions-in-switzerland]dk eyewitness travel[/url] travel clothing women [url=http://wikitravel.in/inn/residence-inn-san-jose-ca]residence inn san jose ca[/url]
free downloadable travel guides http://wikitravel.in/motel
[url=http://wikitravel.in/hotel/hotel-britton-san-fran]compensatory time off for travel[/url] travel map of ecuador [url=http://wikitravel.in/car-rental/car-rental-memphis-tennessee]car rental memphis tennessee[/url]
car travel stats http://wikitravel.in/airline/airline-volumetric-conversion travel supreme motohome [url=http://wikitravel.in/airlines/airlines-pet-policy]airlines pet policy[/url]
Post a Comment