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festivalnut is offline festivalnut
2010-04-15 , 19:28
Posts: 889 | Thanked: 537 times | Joined on Mar 2010 @ scotland
#61
Originally Posted by Dak View Post
That would imply I have some measure for evaluating their lives. I don't, and never claimed to. Therefore I cannot consciously choose to end any life over any other life. My rational participation in this scenario is not possible.
and if you did have means and measure to evaluate they lives, you believe you have the ability or right to choose which is more valuable? and you could then conciously participate?
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Dak is offline Dak
2010-04-15 , 19:28
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#62
Originally Posted by mrojas View Post
Awesome
 
Dak is offline Dak
2010-04-15 , 19:33
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#63
Originally Posted by festivalnut View Post
and if you did have means and measure to evaluate they lives, you believe you have the ability or right to choose which is more valuable? and you could then conciously participate?
As a thinking individual, I have the ability to choose, and as a free individual, I have the right. I do not grant anyone else the right to dictate my choices, they belong to me.

My evaluation of life is subject to my morals, values and intellect. Nobody thinks for me, and I think for nobody else.
 
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fnordianslip is offline fnordianslip
2010-04-15 , 19:38
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#64
I've reconsidered my earlier decision to scream, and now think i would hold a poll amongst the potential victims, and let them decide, thus absolving myself of responsibility.
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geneven is offline geneven
2010-04-15 , 19:41
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#65
I agree with the "do nothing" answer. The number of people saved is not a criterion to base a choice on. The fat man could be about to cure cancer. You have no way of knowing or calculating the consequences of any response to the scenario. Cultivate your own garden.
 
festivalnut is offline festivalnut
2010-04-15 , 19:45
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#66
Originally Posted by Dak View Post
As a thinking individual, I have the ability to choose, and as a free individual, I have the right. I do not grant anyone else the right to dictate my choices, they belong to me.

My evaluation of life is subject to my morals, values and intellect. Nobody thinks for me, and I think for nobody else.
of course you can think and choose, as well as rationally debate, my point is that given the circumstances is it right for you to decide what makes one life better than another? i would not assume to think for you, but the statistical valuation of life seems to me weighed towards the elitist society you mentioned before a lot more than assuming every life is sacred and 5 should be worth more than 1.

oh and i know it takes more than just mentioning hitler, but saying one of the five might turn out to be him as a justification for inaction seemed close enough to me!
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festivalnut is offline festivalnut
2010-04-15 , 19:49
Posts: 889 | Thanked: 537 times | Joined on Mar 2010 @ scotland
#67
Originally Posted by fnordianslip View Post
I've reconsidered my earlier decision to scream, and now think i would hold a poll amongst the potential victims, and let them decide, thus absolving myself of responsibility.
lol there's no time to untie anyone, but theres always time for democracy! would you employ a "hands up" count? :P

still i see a 5-1 count in favour of taking action every time!
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ysss is offline ysss
2010-04-15 , 19:52
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#68
How about if we look for women and children among the five?
And then we do a bit of socio-economic profiling based on their clothing and looks?

Oh, this is good too:
http://www.theonion.com/articles/i-w...an-into,17246/
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pinsh is offline pinsh
2010-04-15 , 19:54
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#69
2 & 3: I would drop a piece of cake onto the tracks, so the fat guy would jump down by himself to get it.
 
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gobuki is offline gobuki
2010-04-15 , 19:56
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#70
Originally Posted by Dak View Post
As a thinking individual, I have the ability to choose, and as a free individual, I have the right. I do not grant anyone else the right to dictate my choices, they belong to me.

My evaluation of life is subject to my morals, values and intellect. Nobody thinks for me, and I think for nobody else.
Spontaneously i would have pulled the switch in the first scenario. But i guess i would be passive in the second two out of confusion.

I read the whole thread and i didn't like your first post. But your following posts convinced me to respect your opinion and were interesting to read.

What if we change the scenario for a little experiment. Say you are driving on the street and get rammed by a car. The impact was so heavy that you are now on the sidewalk and you are steering right into 5 people. You can't stop in time, but you could steer further onto the sidewalk and kill only one.

Would you still be passive and run over the 5 people? I don't know .. probably not. But what is the difference really?
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Last edited by gobuki; 2010-04-15 at 20:03.
 
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