Runaway Train Hypothetical

[Perigrina]

Aww, come on.  That is almost an hour long.  What's the answer?

[Anomaly]

Aww, come on. That is almost an hour long. What's the answer?

Lol. The premise is just a false dilemma, giving just an A or B choice. It's a useful tool in exploring and discussing ethical ideas or how to think reasonably, but there isn't really a "right answer".

[Benedictus]

Lol. The premise is just a false dilemma, giving just an A or B choice. It's a useful tool in exploring and discussing ethical ideas or how to think reasonably, but there isn't really a "right answer".

 

 

So would the Catholic church, moral theologians and others to boot, say there are no right answers to such situations? If the church can proclaim what's moral on lots of other things, such as contraception, then I'm sure it can on this. Our rational self should, if working correctly, conform to Gods ultimate will right? Sure, the situation is a fake one but the same processes (and fall outs) have to be addressed fairly often in various areas.

 

 

Aww, come on.  That is almost an hour long.  What's the answer?

Nevermind - you can tell us what the Catholic answer is now :smile4:

[Perigrina]

Nevermind - you can tell us what the Catholic answer is now :smile4:

 

I chose the first answer in the poll, so clearly that is the Catholic answer.  :hehe2:

[Anomaly]

So would the Catholic church, moral theologians and others to boot, say there are no right answers to such situations? If the church can proclaim what's moral on lots of other things, such as contraception, then I'm sure it can on this. Our rational self should, if working correctly, conform to Gods ultimate will right? Sure, the situation is a fake one but the same processes (and fall outs) have to be addressed fairly often in various areas.

The Church would provide guiding principles to consider when evaluating your choices. No, the Church cannot give an absolute correct answer because since it's hypothetical, you can't know all the factors to consider. Catholic principles can be identified. Is it better or allowable to kill one to save a larger number? Is it permissible to make that choice? How certain can you be iof the outcomes? How would that answer relate to assassinating a leader of an aggressive nation? Nothing in human affairs is a simple A o B choice.

[Winchester]

Only the Sith deal in absolutes.

[Credo in Deum]

[Perigrina]

Sounds like you believe in sith-uation ethics. 

[Nihil Obstat]

Only the Sith deal in absolutes.

Thanks Lilllabettt.

[Benedictus]

The Church would provide guiding principles to consider when evaluating your choices. No, the Church cannot give an absolute correct answer because since it's hypothetical, you can't know all the factors to consider. Catholic principles can be identified. Is it better or allowable to kill one to save a larger number? Is it permissible to make that choice? How certain can you be iof the outcomes? How would that answer relate to assassinating a leader of an aggressive nation? Nothing in human affairs is a simple A o B choice.

But you don't always have all the information or time to sit and ponder these things. Sure if you're sitting on a medical ethics committee you could. But if you're in a situation that requires a snap decision then those extra facts aren't always available. You have to go on the information you've got and then the consequences are defended based on the urgency of the situation that required that action. It's clear, at least to me, that the issue is whether an individual would, as a basic principle, change the course of an event so one person dies in order to save a larger number from the same fate. If someone is saying they need more information then I guess the answer is they would do so if the conditions suited them (either they valued the individual or group more for whatever secondary reason), otherwise they wouldn't consider it.

 

Only the Sith deal in absolutes.

So the Catholic church doesn't? Or do you think them the same thing :saint:

[Credo in Deum]

E) I free the hundred and take their place on the track. One of the hundred reaches the lever in time to send the runaway train in my direction. I then smile and rejoice that I'm Catholic and that Christ has given me the grace to lay down my life for my neighbor and to drink death like it's water.

After I die I immediately thank God for His mercy and then proceed to celebrate my heavenly birthday with God, Blessed Momma, and the communion of saints.

Hypothetical flawless victory!

[blazeingstar]

That's not even ends and means.  Ends and means would be that in pulling the lever you kill a person on the spot, but save the hundreds.

 

In your scenario, it would be far better to direct the train to the track with a single person because there is a far greater chance that one person can be rescued than 100.

 

Deciding between one life and 100 lives is a value proposition.  If that one life was your only child and living relative and the rest of your family was killed and the 100 people were strangers that makes it interesting.

Edited May 27, 2014 by blazeingstar

[Benedictus]

That's not even ends and means.  Ends and means would be that in pulling the lever you kill a person on the spot, but save the hundreds.

 

In your scenario, it would be far better to direct the train to the track with a single person because there is a far greater chance that one person can be rescued than 100.

 

Deciding between one life and 100 lives is a value proposition.  If that one life was your only child and living relative and the rest of your family was killed and the 100 people were strangers that makes it interesting.

 

What if we kill you because we want your organs to save 5 or 6 other peoples lives? That's value proportion as well. :blues: