Trolley Dilemma Analysis

Trolley Dilemma Analysis

I chose to focus on the first trolley dilemma. This dilemma involves a trolley that has lost its brake function, and it’s on a course that will harm five unknowing men (Newton, 2013). Accordingly, the trolley’s driver can switch the railway line that has one unknowing man. Consequently, switching the track will cause harm to one man while sparing the lives of the other five men.

As a trolley conductor, the most probable action would be switching the tracks to the track with one working man. Thereupon, the lives of the five workingmen will be spared while one will be lost. As a switchman controlling the trolley’s track, the proper action would be switching the tracks from the main track with the five men to the side track with one man. Consequently, this action would cause the sparing of five lives while losing one life. As a spectator, the most appropriate action would be letting the trolley pass without pushing the very fat man off the bridge. Even though pushing the man off the bridge will stop the trolley and spare five lives, that action would be unethical. Get in touch with us at eminencepapers.com. We offer assignment help with high professionalism.

These decisions are based on utilitarianism and the Doctrine of Double Effect. Thus, considering utilitarian ethics, the tangible consequences; based on the best action and intangible consequences; based on the ability of action to cause happiness. Therefore, switching tracks will be the best action because five lives will be spared, and happiness will result from this action due to the spared lives by the working men and their families.

The Doctrine of Double Effect also influences the most appropriate decision. It dictates that an action is acceptable despite causing harm as long as the harm was unintentional (Newton, 2013). Pushing the very fat man off the bridge would be intentionally inflicting harm on an individual. In conclusion, various ethical concepts dictate actions based on the consequences to influence decision-making.

References

Newton, L. (2013). Ethical Decision Making: Introduction to Cases and Concepts in Ethics. Springer.

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Trolley Dilemma Analysis

Review 4.4. “The Trolley Dilemma” on pages 59-60. Choose one version of the dilemma and identify which one it is. Then, discuss what action you would choose if you were the conductor, switchman, or spectator. Discuss the reasoning behind your choice using concepts learned in this class. The goal of this discussion is to think in terms of ethics when making choices.