The trolley problem

In short: In the trolley problem a tram is racing towards five people. One can divert it by throwing a switch onto a track with one person. The thought experiment shows how differently we judge doing and letting happen.

In more detail: Philippa Foot and Judith Jarvis Thomson developed the variants.

In detail

• Switch variant: Most find it justifiable to throw the switch.
• Footbridge variant: Pushing a person off a bridge to save five is rejected by most.
• Utilitarian view: Five lives weigh more than one (utilitarismus-nutzen-fuer-alle).
• Deontological view: One may not use people as a means (kategorischer-imperativ-kant).
• Double effect: Difference between intended and foreseen consequences.
• Practice: Relevant to autonomous vehicles and medical ethics.
• Limits: Real decisions are more uncertain and complicated than the model (ethik-grundlagen-gut-und-richtig).