The Trolly Dilemma
The trolley problem is a classic ethical dilemma that explores the nature of moral decision-making. The problem consists of a runaway trolley moving down a railway track. Ahead, on the track, there are five people tied up and unable to move. The trolley is headed straight for them. You are standing next to a lever that can switch the trolley to another track, but there is one person on the side track. You have two choices:
Do nothing and let the trolley continue on its current course, resulting in the death of the five people.
Pull the lever, diverting the trolley to the side track, where it will kill the one person.
The ethical choice in the trolley problem depends on the ethical framework you use to make the decision. There are two main ethical theories that can help inform the decision: utilitarianism and deontological ethics.
Utilitarianism: This ethical theory focuses on maximizing overall happiness or minimizing overall suffering. In the trolley problem, a utilitarian would argue that the most ethical choice is to pull the lever and divert the trolley to the side track, sacrificing one person to save the five others. This is because the total amount of suffering is reduced when compared to letting the trolley kill the five people on the main track.
Deontological ethics: This ethical theory focuses on moral duties and rules, rather than the consequences of actions. According to deontological ethics, certain actions are inherently right or wrong, regardless of their outcomes. In the trolley problem, a deontologist might argue that pulling the lever is morally wrong because it involves actively taking a life, whereas doing nothing and letting the trolley continue on its current course does not involve direct action. In this case, the most ethical choice would be to not pull the lever, even if it results in the death of the five people.
The trolley problem highlights the complexity of ethical decision-making and demonstrates that what is considered "ethical" can vary depending on the underlying moral principles used to evaluate the situation. Ultimately, the ethical choice in the trolley problem is a matter of personal perspective and the moral framework an individual chooses to follow.
