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Post by BlueDolphin on May 9, 2007 20:43:42 GMT -5
The value of the 5 people must be greater than the value of the one person for me to choose them over the one. In other words, no, I would not sacrifice a person who I value for 5 people who I do not. What if it is between 5 common criminals and the mayor of the town (who we assume is free of corruption)? You mentioned value of the person. Is there any time this would be influential? I agree with you though. It isn't right to sacrifice 5 strangers for 1 loved person since those sacrificed are loved ones of others. On the other hand it is very difficult to sacrifice a good friend. Imagining the situation with someone you know can show you this well. I am a bit cynical about people in general. I think a great many people will sacrifice 5 to save 1 in this case even though it is fundamentally selfish.
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Post by Archagon on May 9, 2007 22:31:15 GMT -5
What if you had to choose between your friend and the fat man? What would you say to the fat man? "Sorry, I just don't know you?"
Would you push neither out?
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Post by BlueDolphin on May 10, 2007 20:37:58 GMT -5
I would push neither out for reasons I gave before. Pulling the switch makes the death more of a side effect. Pushing the man is more of a deliberate attempt to hurt him.
In the first situation, the fact that the train goes onto the side rail is what stops 5 from dying. But this time, the fact that the fat man stops the train with his body is what keeps 5 from dying. The end goals are different and so the moral consquences are not the same.
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Post by Archagon on May 10, 2007 20:59:15 GMT -5
I suppose my question was more aimed at the people who said that they would push the fat man.
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wasabi
Member
I'VE BEEN BUSTED
Posts: 123
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Post by wasabi on May 11, 2007 21:42:41 GMT -5
Scenario 1: I would save the 5 people and sacrifice the 1. We have laws against just staing out of it. I would much rather be convicted of 1st degree murder once rather than face 5 separate acts of 2nd degree murder. Scenario 2: I would not push the fat man for 1 chief reason. I would be directly responsible for killing someone. The first scenario, was impersonal. This one would put blood on my hands. Scenario 3: Those 5 losers would die! Nuff said.
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