The philosophy thread

[mayogodhelpus@gmail.com]

While in these circumstances it might be acceptable to sacrifice your own life for the greater good, it would not be acceptable to sacrifice the life of another

Are you talking about the Provos?

[ONeill]

While in these circumstances it might be acceptable to sacrifice your own life for the greater good, it would not be acceptable to sacrifice the life of another

You are sacrificing the lives of 5 unfortunates because you have the ability to save them. You are sacrificing them because you cannot live with the fact you physically intervened.

[Dinny Breen]

To answer your last, that doesn't matter. What guides his moral decision making has no bearing on your decision here. As for the premise of weight etc, take it as given.

Too many questions not enough answers. There is no right or wrong in this instance the fat guy could be a cancer specialist and days away from a breakthrough that could cure cancer, the five passengers could be suicide bombers, you can't make an informed decision so I would let them all die because I wouldn't sacrifice my life to save five why would I expect another man to do the same. 

[ONeill]

That's exactly my stance Dinny. Yet it was interesting to see some grapple with other reasons for not intervening.

The fat man's expertise may have an immeasurable positive effect on humanity so in that case it's impossible and wrong to make a value judgement on the cost of five lives versus one.

[ONeill]

If you spin an oriental man in a circle three times does he become disoriented?

[Denn Forever]

Philosophy Team America style

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x3MJkg6PMA

[mayogodhelpus@gmail.com]

[tbrick18]

If a tree falls over in a wood and there's no-one there to hear it, does it make a noise?

[Bud Wiser]

 

If you witness a burglar entering your neighbour's house, is it your moral responsibility to do something about it (lift a phone even) or do you turn a blind eye and say that's nothing to do with me, so live with a less hefty burden compared to the train scenario?

Watch yourself O'Neill or you will end up getting phone calls in the middle of the night and all hours of the morning and PMs like I did from asshole wannabe hardmen who have less moral obligations than a donkey.  Surely you must know that calling the Gardai when someones life is in danger is a complete no-no.

[Hardy]

If a tree falls over in a wood and there's no-one there to hear it, does it make a noise?

How wood yew know?

[Bud Wiser]

Some of them make a lot of noise but more often than knot their bark is worse than their bite.

[Hardy]

It's an old chestnut anyway.

[tbrick18]

Some of them make a lot of noise but more often than knot their bark is worse than their bite.

What have dogs got to do with the question? 
Perhaps a tree is really a dog and it's only our perception that makes us believe it is a tree....in that case if a dog really is a tree, what exactly is a dog?

[haranguerer]

A word

[muppet]

It's an old chestnut anyway.

I am sick a more puns.