The
Train Dilemma
In ‘The Train Dilemma’, I was faced
with several scenarios in which I had to make an ethical decision. In each of the scenarios, regardless of my
decision, the outcome was always bad – in any decision, the outcome was that
someone, or a group of people, would die.
It is most convenient for me to make decisions based on instinct and/or
emotion. However, I understand that that
kind of decision-making does not lend the best method for solving a problem – it
is asserted that ethics is not what I
personally feel is right or wrong (Bonde & Firenze, 2013) . I must have a logical way to make ethical decisions. Thus, I consider the framework and guiding
principles below.
Christensen & Boneck (2010)
discuss one such framework for ethical decision-making in their case study of right-versus-right
ethical dilemmas. I believe ‘The Train
Dilemma’ scenarios are right-versus-right ethical dilemmas because I am trying
to save a life or lives (albeit at the cost of another’s/other lives). However, the scenarios can also be viewed as
between two “bads”. The aforementioned framework
consists of four general questions to ask.
They are:
1.
“Which
course of action will do the most good and the least harm” (p. 54)? This is the ‘Utilitarian Approach (Bonde & Firenze, 2013) .
2.
“Which
alternative best serves others' rights, including shareholders' rights” (p. 54)? This is the ‘Rights Approach’ (Bonde & Firenze, 2013) .
3.
“What
plan can I live with, which is consistent with basic values and commitments” (p.
54)? This is the ‘Virtue Approach’ (Bonde & Firenze, 2013) .
4.
“Which
course of action is feasible in the world as it is” (p. 54)?
Each of the above questions are
considered separate and alternative actions but may be used in
combination. I must consider the
approaches and then decide which alternative(s) best fits the situation. In addition, LaFollete (2007) wrote that in deliberating
the ethics of a decision it we must consider the criterion of consequences and principles. Consequences
refers to the outcome of one’s decision and principles refers to “stick to our
moral guns” (LaFollette, 2007, p. 20) .
My decisions in the following scenarios
will be based on the facts that I know, applying ethical decision-making guidelines,
and following my heart (after all, it would be naïve to believe that I can completely
ignore my emotions/feelings).
In the first scenario, I must decide
between saving one life or five lives. My
decision is straightforward; save the five lives (using the Utilitarian
Approach). In the second scenario, I
must decide between pushing (or not) an old man into the oncoming train, and
thus saving five lives. My decision is
to not push the old man and
considering the ‘Fairness or Justice Approach’ (Velasquez, et al., 2015) . In this scenario, I believe that the old man
has the right to live as much as the five young children; the difference is
that the children’s lives were already in danger by whatever events that led to
that point, whereas the old man’s life is not.
(This decision assumes that I am not responsible for causing the five
children to be on the tracks.) This is
not a decision between saving saving lives where both are in simultaneous danger
but forcing one to give his or her life for another. I say that I would be more inclined to sacrifice
my own life in this scenario (and in all three scenarios for that matter). However, do I believe that I have the courage
to do so?
In the third and final scenario, I
must choose to save either my own child’s life or the lives of five other
children. This is the most difficult decision
to make. Logically, I ought to choose to
save the lives of the five children. This
decision is the action that will do the most good in saving five lives over
one. Moreover, it foregoes the bereavement
of five separate families versus one family (my own). However, I said it is the most difficult
ethical decision because it concerns my own self-interests (and feelings). In considering the consequences of my
decision, I will take the ‘Egoistic Approach’ (Bonde & Firenze, 2013) . In the egoistic approach, I am (selfishly)
making the decision to produce the greatest amount of good for me.
This the scenario in which I will be unable to ignore my emotions/feelings.
References
Bonde,
S., & Firenze, P. (2013, May). Retrieved from www.brown.edu:
https://www.brown.edu/academics/science-and-technology-studies/framework-making-ethical-decisions
Christensen, D.,
& Boneck, R. (2010). Four questions for analyzing the right-versus-right
dilemmas of managers. Journal of Business Case Studies, 53-58.
LaFollette, H.
(2007). The practice of ethics. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing.
Velasquez, M.,
Moberg, D., Meyer, M. J., Shank, T., McLean, M. R., DeCosse, D., . . . Hanson,
K. O. (2015, August 1). Retrieved from www.scu.edu:
https://www.scu.edu/ethics/ethics-resources/ethical-decision-making/a-framework-for-ethical-decision-making/
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