The Trolley Problem

The trolley problem is a question of human morality, and an example of a philosophical view called consequentialism. This view says that morality is defined by the consequences of an action, and that the consequences are all that matter. But exactly which consequences are allowable?

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As far as this post goes, there is no right or wrong answers, I just want to know what everyone will do in this situation. So with good reasoning, please respond to this question below:

It's a lovely day out, and you decide to go for a walk along the trolley tracks that crisscross your town. As you walk, you hear a trolley behind you, and you step away from the tracks. But as the trolley gets closer, you hear the sounds of panic -- the five people on board are shouting for help. The trolley's brakes have gone out, and it's gathering speed.

You find that you just happen to be standing next to a side track that veers into a sand pit, potentially providing safety for the trolley's five passengers. All you have to do is pull a hand lever to switch the tracks, and you'll save the five people. Sounds easy, right? But there's a problem. Along this offshoot of track leading to the sandpit stands a man who is totally unaware of the trolley's problem and the action you're considering. There's no time to warn him. So by pulling the lever and guiding the trolley to safety, you'll save the five passengers. But you'll kill the man. What do you do?

Peace. <3

pretty sure i can yell move and use my arms a the same time.

Well if there is really no other way to save six people. I would save the five- or perhaps if i asked god i could take that mans place somehow and save six ppl while gladly giving my life.

it's a difficult task to self-tackle. God always gives wisdom in such situation.

If I don't know anything about the people involved then I would pull the lever.

Your instincts will take over and no one knows what they would do.

My Grandson was up on a mountain rescuing a group of stranded climbers. A helecopter was there, and he had put an injured man in the gurney attached to the helecoper, it was ready to take off when a strong gust of wind flipped the helecopter upside down. Mike was strapped in the gurney with the injured man. They would have been thrown to their death. The copilot had about 2 seconds to react, and he did. He flipped the switch that unhooked the gurney when he felt movement. That copilot didn't think about what he would do, there was no time. He just did it.

It would be a terrible decision to make but I'd like to think that I'd choose to pull the lever and switch the tram tracks, thus saving five people, not one. A more difficult scenario would be something similar but with a few differences - the five people are strangers, the one person is your best friend. What would you do?

sorry five unknown people

I never understood people making up unrealistic scenarios and then expecting answers on how people will react. How many of us, i wonder, would even know that was the right lever, and that it would save the people? I'd rather someone just make their point then make up unrealistic scenarios to try to make a point.

i wonder how many people would have the strength to pull the lever?