In the Trolley Problem, a train is hurtling down the tracks towards five men stuck in its path. ... The utilitarian answer is that the moral decision is to sacrifice the heavyweight man, because you'd still be killing one to save five .
What is the Trolley Problem utilitarianism?
The trolley thought experiment has a fundamental purpose. ... The trolley problem highlights a fundamental tension between two schools of moral thought. The utilitarian perspective dictates that the most appropriate action is the one that achieves the greatest good for the greatest number .
Is there a correct answer to the trolley problem?
No Solution , No Problem
Like most philosophical problems, the Trolley Problem is not designed to have a solution.
What would a utilitarian do?
Utilitarianism is a theory of morality that advocates actions that foster happiness or pleasure and oppose actions that cause unhappiness or harm. When directed toward making social, economic, or political decisions, a utilitarian philosophy would aim for the betterment of society as a whole .
What is the Trolley Problem an example of?
The trolley problem is a thought experiment in ethics about a fictional scenario in which an onlooker has the choice to save 5 people in danger of being hit by a trolley, by diverting the trolley to kill just 1 person.
What is a good example of utilitarianism?
When individuals are deciding what to do for themselves alone, they consider only their own utility. For example, if you are choosing ice cream for yourself , the utilitarian view is that you should choose the flavor that will give you the most pleasure.
What question does the trolley problem raise?
To the wider world, and perhaps especially to undergraduate philosophy students, she is best known for inventing the Trolley Problem, which raises the question of why it seems permissible to steer a trolley aimed at five people toward one person while it seems impermissible to do something such as killing one healthy ...
Is the trolley problem realistic?
The trolley problem is designed to be moral thought experiment, but it could get very real in the very near future . This time, it won't be a human at the controls, but your autonomous vehicle.
Where does the trolley problem come from?
The “trolley problem” is generally believed to have been invented by an English philosopher by the name of Philippa Foot . She was born in 1920 and taught for many years at Oxford. The trolley problem was further developed and made popular by another woman philosopher, Judith Jarvis Thomson, who teaches at M. I. T.
What are the 3 principles of utilitarianism?
- Pleasure or Happiness Is the Only Thing That Truly Has Intrinsic Value. ...
- Actions Are Right Insofar as They Promote Happiness, Wrong Insofar as They Produce Unhappiness. ...
- Everyone's Happiness Counts Equally.
What are the disadvantages of utilitarianism?
- We do not consider any other element besides happiness. ...
- It creates an unrealistic perspective for society. ...
- Utilitarianism can be unpredictable. ...
- It also relies on people making consistent decisions. ...
- Utilitarianism relies on multiple definitions of happiness.
What are the weaknesses of utilitarianism?
Utilitarianism's primary weakness has to do with justice . A standard objection to utilitarianism is that it could require us to violate the standards of justice. For example, imagine that you are a judge in a small town.
Who posed the Trolley Problem?
Philippa Foot , a philosopher who argued that moral judgments have a rational basis, and who introduced the renowned ethical thought experiment known as the Trolley Problem, died at her home in Oxford, England, on Oct. 3, her 90th birthday.
What type of dilemma is the Trolley Problem?
The “Trolley Dilemma' is an ethical thought experiment where there is a runaway trolley moving down railway tracks . In its path, there are five people tied up and unable to move and the trolley is heading straight for them. People are told that they are standing some distance off in the train yard, next to a lever.
What is Thomson's solution to the Trolley Problem?
In “The Trolley Problem,” Thomson offered a solution—call this her First Solu- tion—according to which the bystander may flip the switch in Bystander be- cause were he to do so (1) he makes what was threatening five come to threaten only one and (2) he does so not by any means that constitute an infringement of any ...
What are some examples of utilitarianism today?
Examples of Utilitarian Ethics
Customers who fly in first or business class pay a much higher rate than those in economy seats , but they also get more amenities. However, the higher prices paid for business or first class seats help to ease the airline's financial burden created by making room for economy class seats.
