It’s a combination of two common ‘trolley problem’ moral dilemmas.
Do you pull the switch to kill fewer people, even though that would actively involve you in the decision to kill people?
AND
There is a trolley coming - you are with a heavy man on a bridge. Do you push the man off the bridge, knowing his body is substantial enough to gum up the trolley and stop it - to save a greater number of people?
In this scenario, by combining the two, pulling the lever will make the moral dilemma harder - because the fellow on the bridge must decide the life of 1 person vs. the life of 2. On the other hand, refusing to pull the lever will make the decision easier, if still not clear cut - as the fellow on the bridge must decide the life of 1 person vs. the life of 5.
I’ve seen a lot of variations of the trolley problem, and this is the first time I’ve ever heard the “heavy man.” It also makes zero sense, because a heavy man would do nothing to a trolley.
It’s a combination of two common ‘trolley problem’ moral dilemmas.
Do you pull the switch to kill fewer people, even though that would actively involve you in the decision to kill people?
AND
There is a trolley coming - you are with a heavy man on a bridge. Do you push the man off the bridge, knowing his body is substantial enough to gum up the trolley and stop it - to save a greater number of people?
In this scenario, by combining the two, pulling the lever will make the moral dilemma harder - because the fellow on the bridge must decide the life of 1 person vs. the life of 2. On the other hand, refusing to pull the lever will make the decision easier, if still not clear cut - as the fellow on the bridge must decide the life of 1 person vs. the life of 5.
Im not strong enough to push a man heavy enough to “gum up a trolley” any way.
heaves
I’ve seen a lot of variations of the trolley problem, and this is the first time I’ve ever heard the “heavy man.” It also makes zero sense, because a heavy man would do nothing to a trolley.
maybe i got confused because of the heavy man and bridge being on the two paths… Also, no way that “heavy man” can stop a trolley
One of several reasons why the ‘heavy man’ variant of the dilemma is rarely used in comparison to the switch.
Even if he is Legendarily Dense Man™️?
I’m gonna need to ask the people tied to the tracks some questions about themselves…