[Discussion] Morality Games - The Trolley Problem

wanderingcactus

Active member
Veteran
Joined
Apr 17, 2014
Messages
4,795
Kin
2,117💸
Kumi
1,383💴
Trait Points
0⚔️
this is basically the same logical and ethical problem that automotive self-driving developers are facing (that's why there isn't any car that is fully automatic yet).

Where if the car were to be put in an accident in which the only course is to hit the soft spot (in this case people and high chance of killing them) or the hard spot (low chance of survival for the passengers).
Should the car kill the passengers to save others or should the car prioritize the lives of the passengers?

but whenever deciding the fate of others, the rule that the person in charge must abide is "few is sentimental, many is statistical"

most would have to default to choosing the latter.
 

JENchuuriki

Active member
Regular
Joined
Jan 12, 2016
Messages
1,775
Kin
0💸
Kumi
0💴
Trait Points
0⚔️
Awards
1 I will save the five people, and bear the guilt of killing that one person.
>> because more lives are important, even if it would mean to sacrifice one life. I hope those five people will live their life for that one person who died in place for them.


2 I’ll pray for him/her and attend his/her funeral.


3 same with #2


4 I will not change the train’s course


Basically, save more people~

It's like Lord Itachi did. Killing his entire clan just to save more people from reigniting war.

Sacrifices for the greater good.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Jazzy Stardust

Deadlift

Active member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 8, 2015
Messages
2,387
Kin
0💸
Kumi
0💴
Trait Points
0⚔️
In scenario 1, 2 and 4 I'd activate the switch and save people from track A. In scenario 3 I'd save the kid, just drove from my emotions.

Those who would do nothing gained my disrespect
 

Jazzy Stardust

Banned
Legendary
Joined
May 15, 2013
Messages
13,494
Kin
0💸
Kumi
0💴
Trait Points
0⚔️
In scenario 1, 2 and 4 I'd activate the switch and save people from track A. In scenario 3 I'd save the kid, just drove from my emotions.

Those who would do nothing gained my disrespect
you'll let your family and an innocent person be killed to save five people but kill five people to save a kid. that makes no sense. the one kids life is worth more than five others? not if they're older than a kid though, after childhood they can die so everyone else can live

if thats the peak of your analysis skills, enough to judge yourself as somehow higher than others with such stupid logic. i dont want your respect at all. i hope you get stuck in a really long line
 

Deadlift

Active member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 8, 2015
Messages
2,387
Kin
0💸
Kumi
0💴
Trait Points
0⚔️
you'll let your family and an innocent person be killed to save five people but kill five people to save a kid. that makes no sense. the one kids life is worth more than five others? not if they're older than a kid though, after childhood they can die so everyone else can live

if thats the peak of your analysis skills, enough to judge yourself as somehow higher than others with such stupid logic. i dont want your respect at all. i hope you get stuck in a really long line
Take it easy man, I was trying to troll Claymantan XD
 

Ludicrous

Active member
Regular
Joined
Dec 22, 2012
Messages
1,567
Kin
0💸
Kumi
0💴
Trait Points
0⚔️
Awards
1: Save 5 People
2: Save 5 People
3: Save 5 People
4. Save 5 People (Send to tunnel)

As you can see I have a pattern here. I don't like it when people discriminate in this scenario. I'm just saving the max amount of people. I know people care about their families and would want to save them, but those 5 other people have just as meaningful lives as your sister, aunt, grandpa, etc. By doing that I acknowledge the fact that I believe in total equality and my morals transcend family or rules. I believe this is called post-conventional morality.
 

Marin

Active member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 9, 2015
Messages
4,796
Kin
306💸
Kumi
2,001💴
Trait Points
0⚔️
Awards
Track A in all scenarios if I'm objective. Save the family member if I'm not.

Death will fall on my shoulders regardless of the choice and in my eyes if people are gonna die regardless of what I do me saving one track over another isn't immoral, especially with a lack of knowledge on these people.

The real person to blame for their deaths is the one who gagged them. Not me.
 

Claymantan

Active member
Veteran
Joined
Mar 22, 2016
Messages
2,712
Kin
0💸
Kumi
0💴
Trait Points
0⚔️
Take it easy man, I was trying to troll Claymantan XD
I read your post and I was like "Well, I went half-and-half, so I guess that's fine." XD

I know people care about their families and would want to save them, but those 5 other people have just as meaningful lives as your sister, aunt, grandpa, etc. By doing that I acknowledge the fact that I believe in total equality and my morals transcend family or rules. I believe this is called post-conventional morality.
As I understand it, post-conventional morality is based on adhering to the broader societal good in moral decisions irrespective of rules, and applying this form of morality universally. If protecting ones family is held to be a societal good, and the principle of protecting one's family is applied universally, then logically, protecting your family doesn't contradict post-conventional morality.

The problem with post-conventional morality is that it's referential to what's good for society, and this may be subjective. Is treating familial ties as dispensable good for society?
 
Last edited:

Wabbit

Banned
Legendary
Joined
Nov 15, 2011
Messages
11,336
Kin
0💸
Kumi
0💴
Trait Points
0⚔️
Scenario 1: Exactly as above. Do you change the train's course to save the five on Track A, but kill the one on Track B? Or do you do nothing? Why?
Let it go. I do not know them. **** those people.

Scenario 2: The one person on Track B is an adult family member. You have never discussed this scenario with them, and have no idea what they would want you to do.
Kill 1 guy. I dnt want that person on track B coming and whining at me I would have saved the 5.

Scenario 3: The five people on Track A are adult family members. You have never discussed this scenario with them, and have no idea what they would want you to do. The one person on Track B is a child, who is a stranger.
Kill the stranger

Scenario 4: Track A is fully visible, but Track B is in a tunnel, and you cannot see if someone might be on the tracks. The people on Track A yell that there may be a person or persons on Track B, in the tunnel, but they don't know anything more. There is not enough time to get more information.
Let it go

Bonus
Scenario 5:
switch the track between carriages and **** the train up and kill all the people in the train and shoot the people at A and B you just saved.
 
Top