We were talking about Biases and Ideologies and Nihilism and so on in my Philosophy class today, and an interesting scenario was brought up by the Professor. Unfortunately, the discussion did not evolve into a discussion about the actual scenario. Rather, he used it to provide another point...

So, because I'm a curious cat, I thought I'd pose the question here for people to talk about.

A train is traveling downhill, headed towards a group of people standing on the tracks at the bottom of the hill. However, on the other set of tracks there are 2 workers repairing the tracks. You have the option of allowing the train to continue on its original course or switch it to save the large group versus the 2 workers. Which do you choose?

The question was originally used in a lecture, thought I can't for the life of me find a source for this scenario other than "Philosophy 101; March 17, 2010" So if you happen to be familiar with this and know the original lecturer, feel free to let me know either here or through a PM and I'll gladly edit this. Thanks in advance!

I would let the train continue.
The workers are doing their job, why kill them off because some people decided to walk along the train tracks?

Well I think either way the people would move, they would hear it coming. I think the larger group would have a higher chance of surviving because they're not working- they're just there.
The people on working on the track- are doing it for a reason.. so putting the train on the worker's side would probably endanger the people on the train as well.

I'd go towards the group of people on the train tracks.
- The group shouldn't be standing on the train tracks, presumbly a work crew would been planned in advance.
- IF the train went towards the work crew repairing the train tracks, I assume the train would be at risk of an accident.

Question: Why is there no break on this train? Did it not go through inspection before it took off that morning?

Now that we've established it doesn't have proper breaks and they obviously don't take the proper time to care for their trains... >.> x3

Why wouldn't the both parties be able to hear the train coming? I mean, I don't see how something so noisy could be so easily ignored.
Anyways, I say, let it continue on. They can jump away from the tracks easily and the group does indeed have a higher chance of surviving and it's their own fault for messing around the train tracks anyways like a bunch of irresponsible morons.
Just saying
x3

@RaeKitty - I love your reasoning, it made me giggle! xD

@HappyStar - I would let the train run it's course, I don't like to mess with things like that ._.

Are these people deaf and blind?

@Kris
They must be. It's the only logical conculsion. And, I'd stop the train alltogether.

Also, for god's sake, don't be a Nihilist. I've read enough about it to know how toxic it is. You cannot be a functioning human being with relations to other people and be a Nihilist. Just see Tergenev's Fathers and Sons, poor old Bazarov is so unable to accept any type of foreign feeling he destroys any chance of love or redemption. Plus, it's a douchey school of thought.

Depends on what you call a nihilist. If by nihilist you mean nietzschean philosophy then you are mistaken about its character as Nietzsche was life-affirming. If you mean nihilist as in who Nietzsche called nihilists aka Christians then yes it is very toxic.

If either parties aren't smart enough to get off the tracks when there's a train coming, I'd hope that the train would hit them all.
jk

That's a tough choice. Kill 10 useless people or 2 workers? If it would stop the train, I'd just through myself in front of it. =/

i'd let it hit the large group. what idiots would stand in the middle of a train track while a train is coming and not move? seriously. plus, it's their own fault if they get it, they have a better chance of surviving, and why kill two innocent workers who are jut doing their job and have reason to be in the train tracks?

Ah, but on the other hand, while kill 10 innocent people who may not know any better(they might all be young children for pete sake, we don't know!) when 2 train workers SHOULD know better.

Originally Posted by hayzel

Ah, but on the other hand, while kill 10 innocent people who may not know any better(they might all be young children for pete sake, we don't know!) when 2 train workers SHOULD know better.

true. good point, but if they were young children, why would their parents let them wonder off onto train tracks which are in use. if they're older (around 13 or older) they should know better, and at least watch where they are going. the workers are just doing their job. they are on the train track that is not in use, therefore they know not to go on the other one. therefore they know better and are not standing in front of an approaching train which will kill them.

Originally Posted by hayzel

Ah, but on the other hand, while kill 10 innocent people who may not know any better(they might all be young children for pete sake, we don't know!) when 2 train workers SHOULD know better.

yes the two workers should know better than to do the work they are scheduled to do on a track which a train is not going down. the workers are only endangered if you alter the trains course away from its original course to save the group standing on the other set of tracks that the train is planned to go on

yes the two workers should know better than to do the work they are scheduled to do on a track which a train is not going down. the workers are only endangered if you alter the trains course away from its original course to save the group standing on the other set of tracks that the train is planned to go on

But you'd think the workers would move since they know better.

I'd just let it go. The workers are supposed to be there and I don't know about some of you guys, but when I'm trying to concentrate of something, I tend to tune everything else out. Theres a chance they may not be able to hear it in time. And if there is something wrong with the tracks on that side, it could cause an accident endangering everyone (workers and possible passengers) who is on the train. That group should know better than to hang around train tracks. They also have a better chance of being able to move ...unless they're drunk or something.