Skip to main content

Peter Singer thinks that we should push the fat man. Why? What are the philosophical convictions underlying this judgment?

The context of this question is what is known as the "trolley problem," a thought experiment which addresses the problem of intentions in ethics.


The central premise of the problem is that you are the conductor of a trolley. The brakes on the trolley have failed and ahead of you on the track is a group of five workers that the trolley will kill if something is not done to stop the trolley. There are...

The context of this question is what is known as the "trolley problem," a thought experiment which addresses the problem of intentions in ethics.


The central premise of the problem is that you are the conductor of a trolley. The brakes on the trolley have failed and ahead of you on the track is a group of five workers that the trolley will kill if something is not done to stop the trolley. There are two main variants of the problem, a "spur" version in which you have the option of steering the trolley onto a spur where there is only a single worker, and the "fat man" variant in which you are given the choice of pushing a fat passenger in front of the trolley to slow it down and save the five workers. A third variant involves your standing on a bridge and having the option of jumping down yourself or pushing a fat stranger.


For most philosophers, these variants provide different moral dilemmas. Singer, though, removes your intentions from the moral equation, and argues that in both cases we are sacrificing a single life to save five lives and thus that the choices are clear and do not lead to a dilemma. Singer argues that our reluctance to push the fat man is sheer sentimentality, and that we should override our intuitions to behave in the manner that saves the greatest number of people.


There are two weaknesses in Singer's arguments. The first is that there seems to be an underlying size prejudice here; if you change "fat man" to "gay person" or "black person" it becomes apparent that part of the underlying premise is a sort of size prejudice. The second problem with Singer's argument is that it ignores the way your choices create your own moral character. Overcoming an innate prejudice against murder, even if the murder is logically justified, removes some of your moral inhibitions, something which is not necessarily good.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What are some external and internal conflicts that Montag has in Fahrenheit 451?

 Montag, the protagonist of Fahrenheit 451, faces both external and internal conflicts throughout the novel. Some examples of these conflicts are: External Conflicts: Conflict with the society: Montag lives in a society that prohibits books and critical thinking. He faces opposition from the government and the people who enforce this law. Montag struggles to come to terms with the fact that his society is based on censorship and control. Conflict with his wife: Montag's wife, Mildred, is completely absorbed in the shallow and meaningless entertainment provided by the government. Montag's growing dissatisfaction with his marriage adds to his external conflict. Conflict with the fire captain: Montag's superior, Captain Beatty, is the personification of the oppressive regime that Montag is fighting against. Montag's struggle against Beatty represents his external conflict with the government. Internal Conflicts: Conflict with his own beliefs: Montag, at the beginning of th...
Post a Comment
Read more

In A People's History of the United States, why does Howard Zinn feel that Wilson made a flimsy argument for entering World War I?

"War is the health of the state," the radical writer Randolph Bourne said, in the midst of the First World War. Indeed, as the nations of Europe went to war in 1914, the governments flourished, patriotism bloomed, class struggle was stilled, and young men died in frightful numbers on the battlefields-often for a hundred yards of land, a line of trenches. -- Chapter 14, Page 350, A People's History of the United States Howard Zinn outlines his arguments for why World War I was fought in the opening paragraph of Chapter 14 (referenced above). The nationalism that was created by the Great War benefited the elite political and financial leadership of the various countries involved. Socialism, which was gaining momentum in Europe, as was class struggle, took a backseat to mobilizing for war. Zinn believes that World War I was fought for the gain of the industrial capitalists of Europe in a competition for capital and resources. He states that humanity itself was punished by t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Where did Atticus take the light and extension cord in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Atticus brings the light to the courthouse jail so that he can protect Tom Robinson.  Atticus learns that Tom Robinson, his client, is in danger.  A group of white men want to prevent the trial and lynch Robinson. He is warned by a small group of men that appear at his house.  He refuses to back down.  Atticus knows that the Cunninghams will target his client, so he plans to sit up all night with... Atticus brings the light to the courthouse jail so that he can protect Tom Robinson.  Atticus learns that Tom Robinson, his client, is in danger.  A group of white men want to prevent the trial and lynch Robinson. He is warned by a small group of men that appear at his house.  He refuses to back down.  Atticus knows that the Cunninghams will target his client, so he plans to sit up all night with Jim if that’s what it takes to protect him.  Atticus tells the men that he will make sure his client gets his fair shake at the law.  “Link, that boy might go to the chair, but he’s not going till ...
Post a Comment
Read more