Should Fred tell the signalman to switch the runaway trolley onto the track where it will run over ‘just the old lady’ – or do nothing and watch the five picnicking railway workers die?
It is never good to kill someone. Fred, who is just casually walking in a footbridge witnesses a dilemma which is induced to him by either the careless operator of the trolleys or by the course of accident. Fred is given a choice, to save five diverse lives or choose one life of an old woman?
If I were Fred, I would consider that neither of my decision is morally upright. But of course, I would never have time to think of that. If I were in his place, my intuition would choose the lives of the five men. It is the most justifiable decision given the context. There are three things I consider: Experience, contribution, and number.
Compared to the old lady, these workers have a lot to experience as they are young in contrast to the lady. In terms of mortality, the workers have a lot time to spend and will more time to contribute to the society. In contribution aspect, I can’t argue that these five people will contribute, I can only argue that they have a future to contribute for compared to the old lady who has little time. Lastly, choosing between five lives or one life is obvious—given the context.
These five people have more to experience and more to contribute to society. Moreover, like what I said neither of the choices are morally upright. It’s a matter of justification in terms of relating to myself.
