In the first scenario, with the five children and I being
the switch man, that is really a difficult decision to make. If I throw the
switch I sacrifice one child versus five children if I don’t then I sacrifice
more innocent lives. The environment all plays a factor as well, I mean, does
the single child have enough reaction time to get out of the way if there was a
switch? If so, then yes, I would definitely flip the switch and try to
establish some sort of communication with the child to get out of the way. Although
however, whether we decide at that moment what the right the decision is, it
may seem like the wrong decision in others eyes. Cornell (2015) stated “After an action has
been performed (or omitted), a person may be in a position to hold another
accountable for a failure.” (p.112) So there really is no right answer in my
own opinion. LaFollette (2007) also discussed that majority of people agree
that if a behavior will harm others then it is subject to moral evaluations.
(p. 234) So my question to myself is what is the right decision?
The second scenario is somewhat similar in my eyes because
what I think is right at that moment in time will be my action. I mean, if we
can make a decision that can benefit everybody then everybody wins. However,
that is not the case and for this scenario I will sacrifice the elderly man. Of
course the thought process would be that the children have a longer life to
live than the elderly man and if questioned that will be my justification. In
my opinion there is truly no right answer to these scenarios but however and
answer must be given, whether it is in the right of others eyes or in my eyes
or simply both. The sacrifice of the elderly person seems like the right answer
especially when pressured into the decision. When stress factors are
implemented a person like me will go through the motions and try to slow down
time and make the best decision possible.
The third scenario is kind of tricky because now it involves
my own child. What kind of mother or father whose own child is in the rail road
track about to be hit. What kind of parent would not go out of their way to
save their own child? That is why this scenario is so difficult to comprehend
and to make a decision. With this current scenario everything changes and of
course I would save my own child. Of course, in a perfect scenario I would try
to save all 6 kids and the elderly. These are the type of scenarios where there
is really no right or wrong answer just morally right or wrong. You would be
labeled as the person who let a child die, who let children die, or the elderly
die. Then on the flip side of the coin you can be labeled as a hero, because you
saved a child and/or children all depends on the perception of what others
value or their moral outlook of what seemed right.
In conclusion, I would base all my decisions at that
particular moment and time. I can come up with a million different questions,
possibilities, and scenarios that it will be like a revolving door. My answers
provided are the definitive answers if imagined it all in real life, so long as
the decision was made I would deal with the after effects later.
Reference:
CORNELL, N. (2015). Wrongs, rights, and third parties.
Philosophy & Public Affairs, 43(2), 109-143. doi:10.1111/papa.12054
LaFollette, H. (2007). The practice of ethics. Malden, MA:
Blackwell.
