Trolleyprobléma

The Trolley Problem is a thought experiment in ethics and psychology. It presents a scenario where a runaway trolley is heading towards five people tied to the tracks. You are standing next to a lever that can divert the trolley onto a side track. However, there is one person tied to this side track. The question is whether you should pull the lever, thereby killing one person to save five, or do nothing, allowing the five to die.

This dilemma is designed to explore moral intuitions and ethical frameworks. Different ethical theories offer different perspectives. Utilitarianism, for instance, might suggest pulling the lever as it results in the greatest good for the greatest number (saving five lives at the cost of one). Deontological ethics, on the other hand, might argue against pulling the lever, as actively causing harm (killing the one person) is morally wrong, regardless of the consequences.

Variations of the Trolley Problem exist to probe different moral considerations. One common variation involves pushing a large person off a bridge to stop the trolley, saving the five. This variation often elicits different responses, suggesting that the physical act of pushing someone is perceived as more morally reprehensible than pulling a lever, even if the outcome is the same. The Trolley Problem highlights the complexities of moral decision-making and the tension between consequentialist and deontological reasoning. It is frequently used in discussions about artificial intelligence ethics, particularly concerning autonomous vehicles that may face similar dilemmas.