G. Nick is operating his trolley one day and discovers that his brakes are out.
ID: 3471331 • Letter: G
Question
G. Nick is operating his trolley one day and discovers that his brakes are out. Wih the tracks a short way are five individuals who will be killed if the trolley rcaches them. The only way to prevent the trolley from hitting them is to switch the trolley onto a side-track. On that side-track is a single person who will be killed if the trolley is switched onto that track. What would Peter Singer most likely say that Nick should do in this case? Explain I. If Nick can prevent something bad from happening without sacrificing something of comparable moral worth, he should. Since the death of five i worse than the death of one, Nick should turn the trolley onto the other track. 2. If Nick turns the trolley onto the other track, then Nick becomes morally responsible for the death of the one, whereas if the five die, it is just an unfortunate accident. Therefore, Nick should not turn the trolley so as to avoid becoming morally responsible for a death. 3. It doesn't matter what Nick does. In either case, he is killing someone, which is wrong. It doesn't matter whether he kills one or kills five, it is a moral tragedy. 4. Running over the five would probably make a much cooler noise and there would be a lot more gore than if Nick only ran over the one, so he should keep the trolley on this track and have a more enjoyable afternoon.Explanation / Answer
According to Singer, while trying to reduce suffering, the most effective way should be opted. His analogy of 'Drowning Child's states that, most people would want to save the child even if it meant that their expensive clothes would be spoiled. He was of the opinion that moral values or ethics are results of interest, he hold utilitarian perspective.
His one famous quote is 'The notion that human life is sacred just because it is human life, is medieval'.
So, in the given situation, if we understand and follow the teachings of Peter Singer, the most appropriate answer would be number 1) If Nick can prevent something bad from happening without sacrificing something......
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