Absurd Trolley Problems • Hacker News Board

Re: Absurd Trolley Problems

#241

Post by ConstantVigil » Wed, Jul 06, 2022, 6:34 AM UTC

zamadatix wrote: post #142

ConstantVigil wrote: post #117

Kill count: 84 Apparently I solved philosophy? Im gonna assume that title stays the same for everyone lol. So, explanation for why so high. Simply put; I don't believe 5 people really got tied to those rails each time. They are in on it somehow. If so, that is sick and twisted they would tie someone else to the rails purposely. So they deserve the trolley instead. Now on the chance that they really are all innocent;…

Yeah it says that for everyone. The trolley situation is just meant to frame the "you have to choose" type decision without starting back and forth "whatabouts" that avoid looking into the actual question like "I simply wouldn't get into such a situation" or similar. It's impossible to make some scenario 100% of people will find bulletproof so people just use the trolley scenario to convey the concept the question is…

No post body was provided.

Re: Absurd Trolley Problems

#242

Post by indigodaddy » Wed, Jul 06, 2022, 6:35 AM UTC

shpx wrote: post #223

dx034 wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same here. But then I remembered that I contribute to climate change, so I apparently don't value lives in the future as much and decided accordingly.

There's a small chance that there's only 5 people left in the future, so you should do it while it's guaranteed to not wipe out the human race.

Huh I never thought of that possibility.. I did think of the possibility that earth would be totally obliterated or no human population but not the possibility of only 5 to 50 or so people..

Re: Absurd Trolley Problems

#243

Post by zestyping » Wed, Jul 06, 2022, 6:36 AM UTC

throwaway742 wrote: post #220

ConstantVigil wrote: post #117

Kill count: 84 Apparently I solved philosophy? Im gonna assume that title stays the same for everyone lol. So, explanation for why so high. Simply put; I don't believe 5 people really got tied to those rails each time. They are in on it somehow. If so, that is sick and twisted they would tie someone else to the rails purposely. So they deserve the trolley instead. Now on the chance that they really are all innocent;…

I only got 58. Anyone get lower?

I got 55.

Re: Absurd Trolley Problems

#244

Post by easrng » Wed, Jul 06, 2022, 6:36 AM UTC

uudecoded wrote: post #204

ConstantVigil wrote: post #117

Kill count: 84 Apparently I solved philosophy? Im gonna assume that title stays the same for everyone lol. So, explanation for why so high. Simply put; I don't believe 5 people really got tied to those rails each time. They are in on it somehow. If so, that is sick and twisted they would tie someone else to the rails purposely. So they deserve the trolley instead. Now on the chance that they really are all innocent;…

I got an 82, so assume we are thinking similarly. I am personally interrogating my response to this: "Oh no! A trolley is heading towards 5 people who tied themselves to the track. You can pull the lever to divert it to the other track, killing 1 person who accidentally tripped onto the track instead. What do you do?" I save the 5 over the 1. Only 15% agree with me. Why? This is the first Absurd Trolley Problem (I th…

>I save the 5 over the 1. Only 15% agree with me. Why?

I saved the one because the 5 presumably want to die anyway.

Re: Absurd Trolley Problems

#245

Post by miffe » Wed, Jul 06, 2022, 6:36 AM UTC

ConstantVigil wrote: post #117

Kill count: 84 Apparently I solved philosophy? Im gonna assume that title stays the same for everyone lol. So, explanation for why so high. Simply put; I don't believe 5 people really got tied to those rails each time. They are in on it somehow. If so, that is sick and twisted they would tie someone else to the rails purposely. So they deserve the trolley instead. Now on the chance that they really are all innocent;…

I got 91 by pressing Do Nothing on every level.

Re: Absurd Trolley Problems

#246

Post by epgui » Wed, Jul 06, 2022, 6:36 AM UTC

throwawayarnty wrote: post #105

I never understood how the trolley problem applies to real life. When is there ever a situation where you have perfect and complete information about a scenario? Only in thought experiments. The situation where the boxes are probabilistic was more realistic. You’re never sure in real life that you will certainly do less harm if you pull vs not pull.

It really does apply, but maybe not always for obvious reasons.

I really would encourage everyone to watch Michael Sandel's political philosophy lectures (titled "Justice") at Harvard University. It's available on Youtube.

Re: Absurd Trolley Problems

#247

Post by bmo-at » Wed, Jul 06, 2022, 6:37 AM UTC

TrapLord_Rhodo wrote: post #207

> Oh no! A trolley is heading towards 5 people. The lever just speeds up the trolley, which might make it less painful. What do you do? I voted no, cause really? who the hell would SPEED UP a train to hit someeone because it 'might' make it less painful. Disregarding the million other mights that could be assumed. The logic here is astounding & yet. 33% of people agree with you, 67% disagree (20,485 votes) I guess th…

I was surprised about that one as well. Here is another assumption: Speeding up the train might reduce their chance of being saved by a third party. So by speeding up the trolley you might make it less painful, but also might rob them of the chance of being saved. I know this is just a thought experiment, but there are a million variables to a scenario like this and just adjusting for the first one you see is a slippery slope.

Re: Absurd Trolley Problems

#248

Post by epgui » Wed, Jul 06, 2022, 6:37 AM UTC

sh4rks wrote: post #175

c3534l wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The fact that its so low is kind of disturbing, and the fact that you're so cynical about it being so high means maybe you should reassess your values.

Values don't mean anything if you're dead. Five complete strangers? Knowing how terrible people are, they would probably save themselves too if they could. Every man for himself.

That's such a sad perspective. I hope you have the chance to have the life experience in the future to make you think otherwise.

Re: Absurd Trolley Problems

#249

Post by thriftwy » Wed, Jul 06, 2022, 6:38 AM UTC

mrcartmeneses wrote: post #104

ISL wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My logic on that particular question was that someone would probably get a new trolley to replace it (trolleys are insured, right?), no matter what I thought, so I let the trolley go.

I also reasoned that the trolly would be replaced. But with a newer, less polluting model. However I did not take into account the CO2 emissions and possible industrial accidents at the trolly factory or trolly materials mines.

Almost universally, the most eco friendly trolley (clothes, home) is the one you already have.

Re: Absurd Trolley Problems

#250

Post by vemv » Wed, Jul 06, 2022, 6:39 AM UTC

Counterpart to the robot problem:

You can do nothing and kill one human, or pull the lever and kill one alien who can experience consciousness, feelings and pain at a higher level than ours.