Taking a Deeper Look at the Trolley Problem
What are the moral implications of sacrificing one person to save several others? It’s a philosophical question that many of us may have perhaps already pondered or seen explored in contemporary art or film/television. The trolley problem, for those who may not be familiar, is an ethical and psychological series of thought experiments introduced by Philippa Foot that involve the dilemma of whether to sacrifice one individual to save a larger number of people. This was the point of discussion at the recent TEDXNYU event Solving the Trolley Problem with CDS Clinical Associate Professor Pascal Wallisch, Mount Sinai Social Work Manager Laudy Burgos, and NYU College of Arts and Sciences Clinical Associate Professor David Markus. The event took place December 7, 2021 at the NYU Rosenthal Pavilion.
Throughout the discussion, each speaker raised valid points about aspects that could further complicate this already trying scenario. What if it was a choice between a loved one and four strangers? How would you choose? Of course, this depends on who you are. One speaker brought up how one’s upbringing or cultural background can impact their perspective and ultimate decision. Physiological aspects such as stress also play a role. Pascal particularly emphasized the importance of looking beyond the dilemma itself and encouraged the audience to think deeper about what it would say about society to even face such a problem. He went on to propose that the choice truly comes down to how the decider views the individuals in question and their current or even potential contributions to society — factors such as age and perceived productivity come into play here.
“When people are asked to decide whom to sacrifice, they seem to use the larger potential contribution to society as a criterion, for instance babies seem to be valued more highly than the elderly by research participants,” says Pascal.
The trolley problem remains a highly complex and debated topic, one inevitably influenced by personal preferences, values, and experiences. Ultimately, the conversation was a well-rounded dialogue that succeeded in provoking meaningful thought and debate surrounding this philosophical quandary.
A recording of this event will likely be released by TEDXNYU in the near future. Please stay tuned.
For more information on Pascal’s research, please visit Pascal’s website. For more information on the TEDXNYU series, please visit the TED website.
By Ashley C. McDonald
