[lit-ideas] Trolleyology
- From: Eric Yost <mr.eric.yost@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2010 14:27:24 -0400
On 10/14/2010 12:25 PM, Jlsperanza@xxxxxxx wrote:
"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?"
What if the five people tied to the track are the
mad philosopher's five philosophical minions, who,
assuming that you will flip the switch, plan to
repeat this "moral" experiment on other people?
Obviously one would do nothing but stroll to the
front of the trolley and laugh at the squirming,
bound, moral problem-posers as they see the
trolley approach. Then locate the mad philosopher
and call in an air strike.
This demonstrates the importance of good
intelligence work, not only in matters of national
security, but also in moral problems.
Regards,
E
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