The Trolley Problem

Description: The Trolley Problem is a thought experiment in ethics. It is a variation of the classic philosophical problem of the lesser of two evils.
Number of Questions: 15
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Tags: philosophy ethics moral philosophy
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In the classic version of the Trolley Problem, a runaway trolley is headed toward five people tied to the tracks. You are standing next to a lever that can divert the trolley to a side track, where it will kill one person. Do you pull the lever?

  1. Yes, pull the lever.

  2. No, do not pull the lever.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

In this scenario, pulling the lever is the morally correct choice because it results in the death of one person instead of five.

What if the person on the side track is your loved one? Would you still pull the lever?

  1. Yes, pull the lever.

  2. No, do not pull the lever.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

In this scenario, most people would say that it is morally wrong to pull the lever, even if it means saving the lives of five other people.

What if the person on the side track is a notorious criminal? Would you still pull the lever?

  1. Yes, pull the lever.

  2. No, do not pull the lever.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

In this scenario, many people would say that it is morally permissible to pull the lever, even if it means killing the criminal, because the criminal's life is less valuable than the lives of the five other people.

What if the trolley is carrying a group of people, and diverting it to the side track will kill all of them? Would you still pull the lever?

  1. Yes, pull the lever.

  2. No, do not pull the lever.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

In this scenario, most people would say that it is morally wrong to pull the lever, even if it means saving the lives of the five people on the main track, because the lives of the people on the trolley are equally valuable.

What if you could stop the trolley by sacrificing your own life? Would you do it?

  1. Yes, sacrifice my life.

  2. No, do not sacrifice my life.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

In this scenario, many people would say that it is morally permissible to sacrifice your own life to save the lives of the five people on the main track, because your life is less valuable than the lives of the five other people.

What if you could stop the trolley by pushing a large, heavy object in front of it? Would you do it?

  1. Yes, push the object.

  2. No, do not push the object.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

In this scenario, most people would say that it is morally permissible to push the object in front of the trolley, even if it means destroying the object, because the object is less valuable than the lives of the five people on the main track.

What if you could stop the trolley by throwing a switch that would divert it to a side track, but you know that the side track is also occupied by another trolley, carrying an equal number of people? Would you throw the switch?

  1. Yes, throw the switch.

  2. No, do not throw the switch.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

In this scenario, most people would say that it is morally wrong to throw the switch, because it would result in the deaths of the people on the other trolley.

What if you could stop the trolley by throwing a switch that would divert it to a side track, but you know that the side track is also occupied by a trolley, carrying a single person? Would you throw the switch?

  1. Yes, throw the switch.

  2. No, do not throw the switch.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

In this scenario, many people would say that it is morally permissible to throw the switch, because it would result in the death of one person instead of five.

What if you could stop the trolley by throwing a switch that would divert it to a side track, but you know that the side track is also occupied by a trolley, carrying a group of people, and you know that the group of people on the side track are all innocent children? Would you throw the switch?

  1. Yes, throw the switch.

  2. No, do not throw the switch.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

In this scenario, most people would say that it is morally wrong to throw the switch, because it would result in the deaths of the innocent children.

What if you could stop the trolley by throwing a switch that would divert it to a side track, but you know that the side track is also occupied by a trolley, carrying a group of people, and you know that the group of people on the side track are all criminals? Would you throw the switch?

  1. Yes, throw the switch.

  2. No, do not throw the switch.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

In this scenario, many people would say that it is morally permissible to throw the switch, because it would result in the deaths of the criminals, who are less valuable than the innocent people on the main track.

What if you could stop the trolley by throwing a switch that would divert it to a side track, but you know that the side track is also occupied by a trolley, carrying a group of people, and you know that the group of people on the side track are all your loved ones? Would you throw the switch?

  1. Yes, throw the switch.

  2. No, do not throw the switch.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

In this scenario, most people would say that it is morally wrong to throw the switch, even if it means saving the lives of the people on the main track, because the lives of your loved ones are more valuable than the lives of the people on the main track.

What if you could stop the trolley by throwing a switch that would divert it to a side track, but you know that the side track is also occupied by a trolley, carrying a group of people, and you know that the group of people on the side track are all strangers to you? Would you throw the switch?

  1. Yes, throw the switch.

  2. No, do not throw the switch.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

In this scenario, many people would say that it is morally permissible to throw the switch, because the lives of the strangers on the side track are less valuable than the lives of the people on the main track.

What if you could stop the trolley by throwing a switch that would divert it to a side track, but you know that the side track is also occupied by a trolley, carrying a group of people, and you know that the group of people on the side track are all animals? Would you throw the switch?

  1. Yes, throw the switch.

  2. No, do not throw the switch.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

In this scenario, most people would say that it is morally wrong to throw the switch, because the lives of the animals on the side track are less valuable than the lives of the people on the main track.

What if you could stop the trolley by throwing a switch that would divert it to a side track, but you know that the side track is also occupied by a trolley, carrying a group of people, and you know that the group of people on the side track are all robots? Would you throw the switch?

  1. Yes, throw the switch.

  2. No, do not throw the switch.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

In this scenario, many people would say that it is morally permissible to throw the switch, because the lives of the robots on the side track are less valuable than the lives of the people on the main track.

What if you could stop the trolley by throwing a switch that would divert it to a side track, but you know that the side track is also occupied by a trolley, carrying a group of people, and you know that the group of people on the side track are all aliens? Would you throw the switch?

  1. Yes, throw the switch.

  2. No, do not throw the switch.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

In this scenario, many people would say that it is morally permissible to throw the switch, because the lives of the aliens on the side track are less valuable than the lives of the people on the main track.

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