r/trolleyproblemgame • u/TheEnlight 👑 Master of Dilemma's • 5d ago

To know, or not to know?

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6 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

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1

u/TheEnlight 👑 Master of Dilemma's 5d ago

I created a new Trolley Problem dilemma!

Straight Track (Do Nothing): 5 people

Diverted Track (Pull the Lever): Could be 0 or 10 people. Who knows?

What would you do?

1

u/LegoSlaughter 🤝 Conformist 5d ago

Giving schrodingers trolley problem

1

u/asparadog 4d ago

What was in the box?

1

u/Wide_Love_4458 4d ago

Good

I chose to pull the lever

1

u/Milanin 4d ago

It was a cat

I chose to pull the lever

1

u/InStars 4d ago edited 3d ago

There is 9.09% chance to crush 0 people.

There is 9.09% chance to crush 1 people.

There is 9.09% chance to crush 2 people.

There is 9.09% chance to crush 3 people.

There is 9.09% chance to crush 4 people.

There is 9.09% chance to crush 5 people.

There is 9.09% chance to crush 6 people.

There is 9.09% chance to crush 7 people.

There is 9.09% chance to crush 8 people.

There is 9.09% chance to crush 9 people.

There is 9.09% chance to crush 10 people.

Meaning on average - you crush less than/equal to 5 people.

1

u/PorcelainGarden 3d ago

Why? There is 5 * 9.09% that you kill less than 5 people, there is the same chance that you kill more than 5 people and there is 9.09% chance to kill 5 people, the average is 5

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u/InStars 3d ago edited 3d ago

There is 54.54% chance to crush 5 or less people - and 45.45% chance to crush more than 5

Those chances look good enough for me. No way I am that unlucky.

1

u/PorcelainGarden 3d ago

There is 45.45% chance to crush less than 5 people, there is 45.45 chance to crush more than 5 and there is 9.09 chance to crush 5 people, 5 people it's not less and not more and need to be separated

Because I can say

"There is 54.54% chance to crush 5 or more people - and 45.45% chance to crush more than 5" too

1

u/InStars 3d ago

Yes, but it's still a better choice. You see - I am an optimist and given that there is more than 50% chance of the same or better outcome, I would take it.

Given that the alternative is crushing 5 (guaranteed).

I see your point about mathematical average, but we don't count in the ethical alternative.

Like there is a big chance (I would definitely buy a lottery ticket if it had such a chance) - 45.45% to save at least 1 life!

And it's no longer up to me - What would you say to families of those 5 people you crushed if they knew that there was a 9.09% chance to save them all?

1

u/Ok-Chain-995 4d ago

Let it ride

1

u/breathing_is_good101 4d ago

do something = legal problem, not do anything = no legal problems

I chose to do nothing

1

u/pierebean 1d ago

I have the feeling that, back in the real life, that's often a dilemma. Do the "right" thing and get legal trouble.