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A trolley is running out of control down a track. In its path are five people who have been tied to the track by a mad philosopher. Fortunately, you could 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 or do nothing?
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As before, 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?
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1 5
Analysis
What happens if you choose not to act in each of the cases? In A, B, and C, it seems at least permissible that the result of your actions should align with who would have died had you not acted (or not been present to act).
A D
Society
There are cultural (and/or individual) variations in peoples moral judgments: think about abortion, euthanasia, death penalty, redistribution of wealth and so on. Many relativists argue that this diversity entails moral relativism.
Religion
What do you think that religion says about morals?
ABSOLUTE
It says that they are absolutewell kinda If we think about our interpretation of halacha it is largely dependent on interpretation, though that interpretation once accepted does have an abolsute authority to support it.
Consequentialism
Def: Morality is determined by consequences
e.g. lives saved
Consequentialism
The creed which accepts as the foundation of morals, Utility, or the Greatest Happiness Principle, holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure, and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain, and the privation of pleasure.
Consequentialism
Striking implication of consequentialism: Impartiality
Def: I must be impartial to whose good my actions promote
Consequentialism
The happiness which forms the standard of what is right in conduct is not the agents own happiness, but that of all concerned. As between his own happiness and that of others, utilitarianism requires him to be as strictly impartial as a disinterested spectator. One persons happiness, is counted for exactly as much as anothers.
John S. Mill, 1863
Consequentialism
Striking implication #2: No act is inherently immoral
Torture Murder?
Deontology
Def: Morality consist in following principles.
e.g. never murder
Deontology
Philosopher: Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) Principles of duty:
(1) Universalize your action (2) Never treat people as means to an end
Deontology
Case: stealing a newspaper What if everyone did it?
Deontology
The criticism of consequentialism:
It treats people as means to an end
Torture Kidney donation William Brown
Summary
Principles v. Consequences Consequentialism is realistic Deontology protects our rights
Platos friend, Glaucon tells the story of a magical ring, which allows the person wearing it to be invisible. Glaucon says that if we had such a ring and could get away with anything, we would do so. We would be selfish if we could get away with it.