What would you really do in the Trolley Problem?

Okay, I know that this is a really common question, but hopefully I can add a bit of a twist. We all know what deontologist are supposed to answer, and we all know how consequentialist are supposed to answer, but I'm wondering how we would really act if we were placed in the scenario.

As a consequentialist you might expect that I would claim that we should all pull the lever because of the good consequences of doing so. And, as a good consequentialist, I do truly believe that the consequences of pulling the lever to kill the one and save the many is the best outcome. I'm just not sure whether I would be able to pull the lever when it comes down to it. I've always had a problem with this answer of consequentialism, and I was wondering whether anyone had any thoughts on the issue?

Posted Apr 14, 2013, 12:16 AM UTC

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