A question of Morality...

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Radiolab - Morality

Fantastic show Radiolab, this one in particular delving into the question of 'Morality' I found very interesting indeed, if you find this kind of topic interesting I really recommend you give the show a listen.

At the beginning of the show they pose these two interesting questions below and use it as a lead into trying to understand where morality comes from.

Q1) A trolley is running out of control down a track. In its path are 5 people who have been tied to the track. Fortunately, you can flip a switch, which will lead the trolley down a different track to safety. Unfortunately, there is a single person tied to that track. Should you flip the switch?

Q2) A trolley is hurtling down a track towards five people. You are on a bridge under which it will pass, and you can stop it by dropping a heavy weight in front of it. As it happens, there is a very fat man next to you - your only way to stop the trolley is to push him over the bridge and onto the track, killing him to save five. Should you proceed?


Anyway guys how would you answer the above questions and also how would you justify your theoretical actions.

Please give the show a listen, it's a very well polished show that looks into serious topics but presents their arguments in a fun way.
 
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Radiolab - Morality

Fantastic show Radiolab, this one in particular delving into the question of 'Morality' I found very interesting indeed, if you find this kind of topic interesting I really recommend you give the show a listen.

At the beginning of the show they pose these two interesting questions below and use it as a lead into trying to understand where morality comes from.

Q1) A trolley is running out of control down a track. In its path are 5 people who have been tied to the track, Hitler, Mussolini, Amin, Osama, Brown. Fortunately, you can flip a switch, which will lead the trolley down a different track to safety. Unfortunately, there is a single person tied to that track, Jesus. Should you flip the switch?

Hmm, That is a toughie.
 
Yes and yes. Loss of 1 life is better then 5 :D
Hmmm....Although by interfering you are responsible for the loss of 1 life, but if u didn't interfere it's not your fault really.
 
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yes and yes.

the guy being fat in the second one is actually a help; his lifespan is shorter than that of any other person. plus fatties aren't fun to look at, one of the five might be a hot woman!
 
No and No. With no intervention it is nothing more than a tragic accident, if I intervene then I am effectively making a value judgement on the worth of the various lives involved and choosing to murder someone.

The answer would probably change if someone involved was someone I deeply cared about.

Both relatively old moral tests.
 
Q1) A trolley is running out of control down a track. In its path are 5 people who have been tied to the track. Fortunately, you can flip a switch, which will lead the trolley down a different track to safety. Unfortunately, there is a single person tied to that track. Should you flip the switch?

Well if the 5 were say, murderers or rapists or something, and the one person was a small child, then I'd let the trolly trundle right on over then. Otherwise, or if I didn't know the identities or backgrounds of the people involved the one person is going to get quished.

Q2) A trolley is hurtling down a track towards five people. You are on a bridge under which it will pass, and you can stop it by dropping a heavy weight in front of it. As it happens, there is a very fat man next to you - your only way to stop the trolley is to push him over the bridge and onto the track, killing him to save five. Should you proceed?

Same as above. Besides, if he's a chubby bugger indeed big enough to stop a train wagon, he has no regard for his own health, why should I? I'm certainly not "doing a Tefal" and putting myself in the way of it. :p (no offence meant of course)

Any more?
 
No and No. With no intervention it is nothing more than a tragic accident, if I intervene then I am effectively making a value judgement on the worth of the various lives involved and choosing to murder someone.

The answer would probably change if someone involved was someone I deeply cared about.

Both relatively old moral tests.


But by choosing no you have chosen that the 1 man is more valuable than the other 5.
 
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