Runaway Train Problem...

[Mrak-Face]

Just curious as to your thoughts on the 'Runaway Train Problem'. I'll explain it below:

The Runaway Train Problem

You are walking past a rail-line when you hear a loud grinding sound. A train without a driver just broke free of it's restraints and is rolling down a hill very quickly to a group of 5 people, it will surely kill them all upon hitting them.

You look around and notice there are a set of controls just in arms reach of you, if you pull the main lever then the tracks will change and the train will divert from those 5 people.

Unfortunately, it will change to another track where only 1 person is standing and it will kill them instead.

... so, what would you do? Would you pull the lever, changing the trains direction to hit the single person instead of 5? Or would you let the train squash the other 5 people? Try and explain your answer.





My answer:

I would actually let the 5 people die... which sounds off but it's all just a question of ethics.

To understand this choice you need to look at it as if the other 5 people weren't there. Because in all seriousness you do not have control over that set of circumstances. The train breaking free and heading towards that group of 5 people was an occurance you did not have any control over and thus would of happened if you were there or not.

By pulling the lever you are comitting murder to a certain degree, as you are altering an occurance that would of happened regardless of your activities and manipulated it to kill a human being. Sure, you've saved 5 others in the process, but it is YOUR actions that murdered that person.

I know you're thinking "Well, if I didn't pull the lever then my actions would have killed 5 people instead". What you need to realise that the train breaking free wasn't your action and was going to happen regardless. You did not manipulate the scenario in any way, and thus did not kill those people.

Also, by pulling the lever and killing the single person you cannot pin the reason on the runaway train. The train was a tool of destruction but was only destructive to that single person due to your actions.

Example, there's a sharp knife lying in the middle of the road and someone picks it up and stabs another person to death with it. Do you really think they would get off by saying "Well, it's the knifes fault for being there, not my action to kill someone with it?"



Mind you, if I only had a split second to chose then I'd pull that lever everytime... but if I was given just a few seconds to think about it then I'd simply couldn't.

[Jahova]

I'd obviously save the 5 people. 5 people's lives are better than one.

[DJ-Ains.T]

You explained your answer it great detail lol, myself, I wouldn't get involved and just turn around and run. The adrenaline in the 5 people would make them move.


EDIT: And it anyone dies, it serves them right for being on the track in the first place!

[LoveToStack]

I would just leave things be. It's not my place to play god... yet.

[syko2006]

Theoretically I would pull the levers over and over again, untill the train comes to the track change, and eventually flips. (Maybe missing all 6 people.)

Realistically I wouldn't touch it, I would wait for it to do it's damage, then alert the authorities.

[GommeInc]

Is it too much to ask what the other controls do? A lever isn't quite a control, and in this case if it is "control", what do the other controls do?

You look around and notice there are a set of controls just in arms reach of you.

Nuff said.

[adaym]

I would never let myself get into this situation so ti doesn't matter.

[Mrak-Face]

I like how everyone doesn't give a direct answer.

It's theoretics guys. One way or the other. No middle line

[FlyingJesus]

Depends who's fitter

[Misawa]

If they were standing around on a track then they must be chavs, so I'd let the train mow them down.