Judith Thomson, The Trolley Problem | Thompson's Variant Cases | Philosophy Core Concepts

[@drbeavis4211]

The mafia one would be interesting to consider. I couldn't help but think that I'd probably be a legend to them and my life would drastically change in fortune and lifestyle if I saved say... members (or even leaders) of the mafia. Something tells me I'd do the 'right' thing but that's easy to say on the computer drinking coffee pondering that thought. Edit - I also have to consider the consequences of failing to save them. Given the mafia recreates itself and you probably wouldn't be saving the world with your generous act of letting societies more violent faction of people die (who also stifle free market competition via extortion and violence) as there will always some group that exists like them... imho.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Weird route for you to go with this. I'd let it run over the mafiosos myself

[@drbeavis4211]

@@GregoryBSadler I can't say what I'd do tbh - I suppose that is the point of such exercises, make one test their convictions. Mafia is a bit vague, I assume she means members of the La Cosa Nostra but there are entities in other similar forms as the mafia throughout various societies. Generally speaking, I'd consider them a terrible group of people and consciously letting them die (at the expense of an innocent person) probably isn't a bad thing... This would be a lot easier if they were pedophile rapists (or knew that the innocent person wasn't one.. as well).

[@GregoryBSadler]

If you read the actual text, it'll be clear to you what the "point of such exercises" is for Thompson