Instigator / Pro
4
1731
rating
167
debates
73.05%
won
Topic
#2633

Should you switch the trolley track on the problem described in the description section below?

Status
Finished

The debate is finished. The distribution of the voting points and the winner are presented below.

Winner & statistics
Better arguments
0
3
Better sources
2
2
Better legibility
1
1
Better conduct
1
1

After 1 vote and with 3 points ahead, the winner is...

CalebEr
Parameters
Publication date
Last updated date
Type
Standard
Number of rounds
3
Time for argument
One week
Max argument characters
10,000
Voting period
Two weeks
Point system
Multiple criterions
Voting system
Open
Contender / Con
7
1519
rating
4
debates
50.0%
won
Description

This is the description I am referring to. Kritiks aren't allowed.

Trolley Problem: This is my version of the story we will be using and using any other stories that contradicts my tale will be against the rules and any points based on said other stories will be nullified.

Suppose on your job you are driving a trolley that can't be stopped for some reason, and there are 5 people tied to the track on your usual route that is the cleanest, and there is a single person tied onto an unused branch that leads to a whole different place(that can, however, lead back to your usual route, but you do not know where this branch leads to exactly). The 6 people never ride your trolley and you do not know them. In the trolley there are approx. 20-30 passengers. You have the choice of going straight and crush those 5 people vs switch the track to turn to the right, and going on a branch killing 1 person. Which one do you choose?

I, Intelligence_06, will choose the Pro stance, that is, said driver should keep going straight and in the way crushing 5 people to their death.

You, the challenger, will choose the Con stance, that is, said driver should turn to the right, go on a branch and crushing 1 person.

The Burden of Proof is shared. Good luck!

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@seldiora

**************************************************
>Reported Vote: seldiora // Mod action: Removed
>Points Awarded:
>Reason for Decision: "I don't buy the idea that the five people could potentially stop the trolley; that destroys pro's own argument about convenience. Pro fails to find a good grounding about consequentialism -- why are 20 people's convenience worth more than 4 person's net lives saved? -- and therefore Con wins the debate."
>Reason for Mod Action:

This vote did not meet the standards for awarding arguments points.

To award argument points, the voter must:
(1) survey the main argument and counterargument in the debate,
(2) weigh those arguments and counterarguments against each other, and
(3) explain, based on the weighing process, how they reached their decision.

**************************************************

Sad days, no clashing for me, have fun with that CalebEr

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@Intelligence_06

It's about time we clash again, don't you think? ;)

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@Sum1hugme

Yes that's true. and for that reason I would like to accept, however, I already have a debate going.

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@Intelligence_06

I love trolley problems, but the only argument for con given the parameters (since we can't define who is tied to the tracks) is hard utilitarianism

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@Intelligence_06

Hm.... I suppose I could take this argument, but I don't know if 10,000 is enough characters. Hm... I'll think about it, if no one takes it for a couple of days I will.

It's their own fault they got tied to the track. It's time for them to take responsibility.

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@Intelligence_06

The branch leads to unknown route? This seems rigged in pro’s favor. legal circumstances matter (as manslaughter is messier than negligence), you have no moral obligation to uphold (merely a driver has no responsibility to save persons), and the waste of time on the passengers (30 people job productivity is lost). It is impossible for con to win.

Even if you miraculously bypass legality, prove your responsible worth, and mention the interesting new place that may or may not interest the passenger, the knowledge of discovery is outweighed by difficulty of getting back.

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@Barney

I love the Good Place reference there. Thanks for putting it up for me to revive my memory of the amazing show.

However, I've always felt the Trolley Problem to be nothing but an unnecessary imposition of stress on an individual. Nothing comes out of it positive. The problem itself is flawed to be asked. To reflect on one's moral dilemma, this in my opinion is a very unsettling situation to engage in.

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@Intelligence_06

There's an experiment where the reactions of individuals are tested in a sort of real world "Trolley Problem" - will post a link to the video with your permission. (It doesn't quite support either PRO or CON, but you might find it interesting.)

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@Vader
@seldiora
@Sum1hugme
@Theweakeredge
@Undefeatable

You want it? It's yours, as long as you have enough activity.

https://youtu.be/JWb_svTrcOg