TOPIC: In emergency situations, many seem to think it is permissible to sacrifice the one to save the many. After summarizing the Trolley Problem, the scenarios discussed this week, and your own reactions, make a persuasive argument based on your own values and logic that explains and justifies when it is acceptable to sacrifice one to save many? In your conclusion, try to reflect on what your own nuanced argument—quite possibly different from everyone else in the class—has to say about your own personal values.
NB: THIS ALL SCENARIO DISCUSS THIS WEEK!What would you do in each situation and why?
1.There is an empty runaway train barreling towards five railroad workers. You can pull the switch and divert the train to the other track. On the other track there is only a single railroad worker.
2.There is a empty runaway train barreling towards five railroad workers. You can push an immensely fat man off of a bridge above the track. His girth is such that he will stop the train and save the five railroad workers, but he will be killed in the process.
3.There is an empty train barreling towards five people who have been tied to the track, cartoon style. You can push an immensely fat man off of a bridge above the track. His girth is such that he will stop the train and save the five people, but he will be killed in the process. Also, by the way, this immensely fat man is the one who tied the five people to the railroad track in the first place.
4.There is an empty runaway train barreling towards five railroad workers. You can pull the switch and divert the train to an abandoned track. This track will send the train careening over the side of a cliff. At the bottom of the cliff is a man sleeping in his house. He has no connection to the railroad company. The train will destroy the sleeping man's house, and the sleeping man will die a fiery death.
5.There is an empty runaway train barreling towards five hundred railroad workers. You can pull the switch and divert the train to the other track. On the other track there is only a single person. That person happens to be your mother (or father, sister, aunt, whoever you prefer).
NB: all videos and documents
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolley_problem
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOpf6KcWYyw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WB3Q5EF4Sg