Introduction
The trolley dilemma is a thought experiment that presents a moral dilemma involving a runaway trolley and the decision to pull a lever to divert the trolley onto a different track, potentially sacrificing one person to save five others. Utilitarianism is a consequentialist ethical theory that suggests actions should be judged based on their overall consequences and the greatest happiness for the most significant number of people. In the context of the trolley dilemma, a utilitarian would likely choose to pull the lever to minimize harm and maximize happiness.
Utilitarian Perspective on the Trolley Dilemma
Utilitarianism, a theory propounded by philosophers like Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, holds that the most ethical action maximizes overall happiness or ‘utility’ (Faulhaber et al., 2019). In other words, it is an ethical approach that prioritizes the greatest good for the most significant number. It is consequentialist, which judges actions based on their outcomes rather than intentions.
To change the trolley’s direction in the Trolley Dilemma, a utilitarian would pull the lever. This is because the death of one person, although tragic, is preferable to the death of five from a utilitarian perspective (Faulhaber et al., 2019). This action maximizes overall happiness and minimizes suffering, as the death toll is reduced.
However, the philosophical difficulty I see with utilitarianism, from my perspective, is that it contradicts my religious beliefs. In my faith, it is not within my right to decide who lives or dies. It could be argued that the first scenario, where the trolley kills five people, is a tragic accident, but if I intervene and pull the lever, I am directly responsible for the death of the one person on the other track. This personal involvement in causing the death of another person, even to reduce overall harm, is morally unacceptable to me.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while utilitarianism offers a practical solution to the trolley dilemma by prioritizing the greatest good for the most people, it is not without its philosophical difficulties. These challenges can come from personal, religious, or moral perspectives that may conflict with the utilitarian principle of maximizing overall happiness. Therefore, deciding to pull the lever in the trolley dilemma is far from straightforward and depends on one’s personal and philosophical beliefs.
Reference
Faulhaber, A.K., Dittmer, A., Blind, F., Wachter, M. A., Timm, S., Sutfeld, l. R., Stephan, A., Pipa, G., & Konig, P. (2019). Human decisions in moral dilemmas are largely described by Utilitarianism: Virtual car driving study provides guidelines for autonomous driving vehicles. Science Engineering Ethics, 25, 399–418. Web.