Ethical dilemma
Ethical dilemma
You are a time traveler. A car bomb is about to go off in a town square, and you are the only one able to warn people (from a distance).
The bomb will kill 10 people. Among them are: a serial killer, a drug cartel boss, the future mother of a brutal dictator, an abusive father/husband and a future terrorist, who will one day kill dozens.
Will you (A) sacrifice the five innocent people by doing nothing, or (B) warn them all, knowing that the five "bad ones" will get away alive?
Note: You are not able to time travel again, or catch them later! This is it! Either they die now, or get away!
The bomb will kill 10 people. Among them are: a serial killer, a drug cartel boss, the future mother of a brutal dictator, an abusive father/husband and a future terrorist, who will one day kill dozens.
Will you (A) sacrifice the five innocent people by doing nothing, or (B) warn them all, knowing that the five "bad ones" will get away alive?
Note: You are not able to time travel again, or catch them later! This is it! Either they die now, or get away!
Last edited by QuantumT on Sat May 19, 2018 10:06 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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Re: Ethical dilemma
I would warn them and take my car and run down the five bad ones. Case closed.QuantumT wrote: โSat May 19, 2018 5:44 pm You are a time traveler. A car bomb is about to go off in a town square, and you are the only one able to warn people (from a distance).
The bomb will kill 10 people. Among them are: a serial killer, a drug cartel boss, the future mother of a brutal dictator, an abusive father/husband and a future terrorist, who will one day kill dozens.
Will you (A) sacrifice the five innocent people by doing nothing, or (B) warn them all, knowing that the five "bad ones" will get away alive?
Note: You are not able to time travel again! This is it!
PhilX
Re: Ethical dilemma
Once the warning is given, they will spread and get far away rapidly. Besides, you are a visitor, and have no car.Philosophy Explorer wrote: โSat May 19, 2018 5:59 pm I would warn them and take my car and run down the five bad ones. Case closed.
PhilX
Even if you succeeded, you'd get life in prison for multiple murders.
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Re: Ethical dilemma
Now you're changing the conditions so are you amending the problem? (btw I posed a similar problem on another website)QuantumT wrote: โSat May 19, 2018 6:02 pmOnce the warning is given, they will spread and get far away rapidly. Besides, you are a visitor, and have no car.Philosophy Explorer wrote: โSat May 19, 2018 5:59 pm I would warn them and take my car and run down the five bad ones. Case closed.
PhilX
Even if you succeeded, you'd get life in prison for multiple murders.
PhilX
Re: Ethical dilemma
It's logical additions. Things I didn't think to write down from the beginning. It's not easy setting up such a scenario perfectly.Philosophy Explorer wrote: โSat May 19, 2018 6:20 pm Now you're changing the conditions so are you amending the problem? (btw I posed a similar problem on another website)
PhilX
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Re: Ethical dilemma
TrueQuantumT wrote: โSat May 19, 2018 6:23 pmIt's logical additions. Things I didn't think to write down from the beginning. It's not easy setting up such a scenario perfectly.Philosophy Explorer wrote: โSat May 19, 2018 6:20 pm Now you're changing the conditions so are you amending the problem? (btw I posed a similar problem on another website)
PhilX
PhilX
Re: Ethical dilemma
I added a poll. Just found out I could do that
Re: Ethical dilemma
Except that one of them was your great-grandmother (yes, your grandfather was a brother of the brutal dictator.) so you were never born, so you never had the chance to warn anybody about anything.Philosophy Explorer wrote: โSat May 19, 2018 5:59 pm
I would warn them and take my car and run down the five bad ones. Case closed.
PhilX
The past is done. Leave it alone.
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Re: Ethical dilemma
First Quantum T:
I would make sure no evidence is left behind for the police ("The perfect crime").
Now Skippy:
What scientific evidence do we have that we can go back in time? Evidence by mainstream scientists? No affecting the past. I'll be born. (You disappointed me here. I'd expect more from you).
PhilX
I would make sure no evidence is left behind for the police ("The perfect crime").
Now Skippy:
What scientific evidence do we have that we can go back in time? Evidence by mainstream scientists? No affecting the past. I'll be born. (You disappointed me here. I'd expect more from you).
PhilX
Re: Ethical dilemma
Of course we can't go back in time. The past doesn't exist. There is no time.
I thought it was a thought-experiment. As such, you failed it, just as I've failed you.
C'est la vie!
I thought it was a thought-experiment. As such, you failed it, just as I've failed you.
C'est la vie!
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Re: Ethical dilemma
Why should it have been my responsibility to clarify the obvious?
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Re: Ethical dilemma
The obvious wasn't clear to you and that's my fault?
Re: Ethical dilemma
We are equal because we are conscious beings. So ethical code should be in favor of more lives.