Test question #1:A train's brakes have failed, in it's path are 5 people unaware
Of the danger, but you can save them by pulling a lever, sending the train on
A path towards an also unaware rail worker.
What do you do?

Question #2: a train is hurtling towards another group of 5 unaware people, but this time you can save
Them by pushing a person, with a family, onto the tracks to his death, the train will stop, but will kill him, what do you do?

#3: you have $50, if you leave some money on a table, you could end up helping someone in need, or feed
Someone's greed, how much, if any do you leave?

#4: there's a $20 bill on the ground next to a man talking on his phone and holding his wallet in his free hand, what do
You do?

Answer truthfully, from your heart, and add the number of the question each answer corresponds to

Also, at say around 6p.m. Central Today (tommorrow, if your time zone hasn't hit midnight yet), I will end the thread with my personal
Answers

1. Pull the lever.

2. Push the guy.

3. None. Buy a bow and arrow, teach a homelss man to hunt. There's a saying: Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach him to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.

1. Pull the lever.

2. Push the guy.

3. None. Buy a bow and arrow, teach a homelss man to hunt. There's a saying: Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach him to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.

4. Pick it up. Ask him how much he has in his wallet. If he doesn't know, make him guess. Then have him count. If he's $20 short, give him th money. If not, it's yours.

May I just say, those are interesting answers especially #3, completely unexpected. Lol, not really

Lol, the first two are just logic. To quote some guy from Star Trek (Sorry, Ive only seen a couple) "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few."

As for 3, I forget where I first read that. It makes sense, though. Learn to shoot a bow and arrow, you'll never go hungry. If I gave a homelss guy something I shot with the bow, he gets a meal. One meal. A lifetime of food. No contest, really. As for just leaving it there, well, thats honestly a stupid idea. If you live in the first world, there are so few poor people, youd almost certainly wind up giving Mitt Romney $50, something he doesnt need in the slightest. Obama FTW!

1. In today's reality, if you are just a passenger and don't have responsibility on the train, you will get your butt sued and your life ruined if you *do* something (like pull a lever) that results in that one person getting killed, even if it saves 5 lives. Sad, but true. Assuming that you are a good person who hopes to impact the world in a positive way, it would be globally unproductive to set yourself up for ruin, especially if you expect to impact more than 5 people in a truly meaningful way.

My, that sounded so pessimistic and utterly selfish. But what if a young Gandhi had pulled the lever, gotten sued for killing the single worker, and as a result, never was able to be in a position to rally for India's independence? (Depending on your political beliefs, we could construct a Churchill examples as well.) Extreme example? What if a Dad pulled the lever, got sued, and financially ruined his family, robbing his children of opportunities that they otherwise would have had?

I suppose it boils down to the question: how deterministic is the lever and the results? 100%, and sure, the lever is right. Plus, the courts would favor you if you could prove the 100%. But these things are rarely 100%, so you now have risks to weigh.

2. Same answer as #1.

3. I'm with Calvin, in philosophy. Teach to fish, that brings about the most benefit. But sometimes there's no opportunity to learn to fish if someone can't even eat on that day. I've never given $$ to someone on the street, but numerous times (actually very numerous) I have bought some food and circled back to give them the food. Kind of rubs me the wrong way, because I'd like to do something more permanent, but again, sometimes surviving *right now* is more the issue.

There, I've revealed a soft spot. Back to my Closed Borders and Small Government persona.

4. Again, love Calvin's answer. And if the guy on the phone is too involved in his call to care, then I'll go to the local shelter and give the money to them, plus some extra.

Manfred

Good point, Manfred, but imagine if Gahndi had those five deaths on his consience. I agree that IF you would be able to save more than the five lives by letting them die, then, regretably, you'd have to do so, given time to think. How many people actually save more lives than they cost, though? If you've ever eaten Thanksgiving dinner, you are, indirectly, a murderer. All that food could have kept several people alive for a day. Not that it's wrong, but think about it. Everything has consequences that you don't think of in the heat of the moment. I think that unless I knew FOR CERTAIN, that I was going to go and end world hunger, defeat Al-Queda, or find a cure for cancer (Yes, I know cancer is many different diseases. No one correct that.), I think I'd pull the lever and save the five people.

By the way, what kind of person doesn't notice a train speeding at them?

For clarity's sake, your not on the train, its a lever alongside the tracks used to control ( artificially) the trains path. Also, the trains a while off, but some one on the train tells you, just go with it

And you know what, for all you know, the people are deaf and the rail worker is miles away, but you know that somehow, go with it

DON'T QUESTION ME!!!!!!!!!!!!7

#1- wouldnt be involved
#2- wouldnt be involved
#3- wouldnt leave any
#4- would notify the man about the bill..

#1 Are all these people deaf? Are they tied to the train tracks? Are they all staring at a solar eclipse in the opposite direction of the train? Why are they on the tracks?!?!? Take 5 steps either direction and they are all safe.

#2 (see #1)

#3 I would never leave $50 on a table that "might help someone." Go somewhere and donate it to a good cause that you have looked into or are already involved in and "know" that it helped someone

#4 I agree with the asking if he's lost some money. I might just give it to him anyway. I lot of people would be surprised enough at your honesty that if it wasn't theirs they would tell you so.

I'm not so sure how big a test of morality this is since there are not really any black and white questions. In my opinion morality would be based more on clearly defined scenarios where everyone knows what they should do, just not sure if that's what they really would do.

They don't know the train is coming and they all have deer in the head lights syndrome. Look it up

LOL How can they possibly have Deer in the Headlight Syndrome if they don't know the train is coming? You have to see the train to have that

I'm agreeing with Manfred on this one.

1) I step out of the stopped train and tell the 5 people to get off the track. (It does not say the train is moving.)
2) I apply the brake. (It does not state that this train has no brakes)
3) I just finished a wonderful meal where the waiter gave tremendous service. I leave a 20% tip and trust in the individual to do what is right with their earnings.
4) I politely ask the gentleman if he has dropped the money. If he answers with a lie it his bad karma. If it is not his and I am in a business I leave it with the manager.

Always take the High Road!

Your not on the train. We misunderstood that. Id DEFINATELY say pull the lever now, since you could possibly get away now.

Ok,
1) Remove the people from the tracks. Same explanation, the train is not moving or not moving fast.

I agree with Bigbossman. I think he definitely has the best viewpoint on this situation.

The train is iIndeed moving, and can't stop

Stop trying to find loopholes!

The correct answers would be pull the lever; push the guy and leave $50. However, taking life, is not for the faint of heart; even if you’re saving lives. For me, I’d probably pull the lever. I mean the math just adds up there and the rail worker has taken on some assumed risks by being a rail worker. But pushing a guy off a train to let other people live? I think if I did that two people would die – the guy I pushed and me; at least on the inside I’d die. And six people would die if I didn’t push – same as before – people hit by the train and me on the inside. Think about it. I might ride this train everyday; enjoy a good conversation with that guy while we’re waiting for train; may have shown me pictures of this family. Can I jump instead of push to save the people?

As for the #3, if I’ve got 50 bucks to give; well then, I’d leave it all. I mean what the heck, you can’t take it with you. 50 bucks can’t really or hurt or help that much anyway.

And for #4, I’d ask the guy if he lost $20 – yes I’d tell him the currency too because even though the world can be a mean place, I feel that I trust starts with myself. I’m not going to go crazy here, like shout out, “hey, I found $20 – has anyone lost $20” I’m a nice person, but not a saint. If the takes it and it’s his to take – all is good. If it’s not his and he takes it? That’s on him not me. And then if he says, “Not mine”. I’d probably do the 5 second look around and say, “anybody”; and if no takers, well, guess who’s going to the movies.

just saying, your not on the train in either question

isaactheman wrote: Stop trying to find loopholes!

Philosophy 101: You cannot change the premise to setup your own argument.
Take what do you were given and go from there.
There are no wrong answers. Maybe incorrect assumptions.

Thanks. Loopholes is probably not the best wrote for it

So, flymagic, what are your responses

Ok, I will try again.
1) I dive down upon the red people and spawnkill them.
2) Once again whoever is red dies by my flying lead.
3 & 4 remain as I answered earlier.

No Loopholes.

isaactheman wrote: So, flymagic, what are your responses

For those of you that don't know, questions such as these are used to delve into your own inner feelings.
What is your own personal philosophy is at this stage of your life. These are very revealing, Isaac, thank you.
Having had to deal the same type of question personally, when I was on a small boat search and rescue mission in the United States Coast Guard. I was 19 at the time, so I have lived this way all my life. And have used the experience to become a better, more thoughtful person.

1. Pull lever.
2. Push.
3. $25.00
4. Identify the $ & serial #. Heck, I can always use $20.

Why you, bossman, are a saint

Spawn killings moral now?