Philosophy unit 4 responses
1. This question is similar to the one with the trolley. It's also hard to think about being put into these situations and having to choose who should or shouldn't die and for what reason. In this situation, I think it would be right to get the large man out of the way to save the rest of the explorers. I think to save many lives, or the whole group of explorers in this situation is better than just saving one. I know its hard to think about this situation with a different person in the large man's spot, however, if it were me stuck at the opening and a group of people trapped inside the cave, I would hope they would save themselves instead of just letting me live. I think it would be selfish to save one life and let the rest of the group drown.
2. This weeks discussion reminds me of the overall "bigger picture" question of the trolly scenario. However, as certain details change within this scenario, my answer would change accordingly. In the first version, I think it would be the smarter decision to use the dynamite stick on the fat man whose blocking everyone else and will cause them to drown. When switching out the large man with a fat pregnant women, it gets a little bit harder on making a choice. The difference is that this womans pregnant. The baby inside her has no idea what's going on, and by us killing her in order to save the rest of us means we take an innocent life out of this world. I don't think we could play "God" in that sense. So with that said, I dont think I would use the dynamite stick. Realistically, I think I'd waste the remaining time i had left trying to find another way.
3. The question is similar to the trolley question, and I think using a utilitarian approach will help in coming to the right ethical decision. According to utilitarianism, an ethical theory states that a decision is considered right or wrong based on that decision's outcomes. When there is an ethical predicament, a decision that would bring good to the most significant number is considered ethical. If I were a part of that group, I think using the dynamite sticks to blow up the person stuck on the mouth of the cave would be the right ethical decision for all three scenarios. When using the dynamite sticks, only the person stuck on the cave would die, compared to not using the dynamite sticks, due to which all of the people in the cave would get drowned. People who use the utilitarian approach do good to most people even though it is bad for that one person.The person stuck in the cave would also die; it is considerably easy to decide using the dynamite sticks than the first scenario where he could be saved. However, taking this decision is very difficult in the third scenario, where the person stuck in the cave was a pregnant woman. However, making a moral decision is difficult because many lives are saved, but a person dies.
4. This discussion is similar to the trolley, which was quite hard for me to come to a decision and feel comfortable with it. It takes me back to the utilitarianism approach, basing my decision on the greater number of people. I would have to take out the large man and save the rest from drowning. Honestly he led the group into this predicament and should volunteer to be blown up so only he makes the decision. Considering the second scenario where the large man's head is in the cave, it is easy to come to the conclusion of using the dynamite sticks. in the 3rd scenario, I have a hard time with that one. It's not as easy as the large man, he is one person she is two and the baby is Innocent to the situation at hand and very much deserves life.
Why would anyone follow into the cave in the first place? Especially a pregnant woman.
5. Either scenario makes this decision hard in what to do. This, like the other example with the trolley is more of a morality battle. I think one life lost is better than a dozen lives lost. I would have to say the large man's death would be my pick rather than losing a group of explorers. These explorers could be our next scientists, doctors, teachers, etc.. Their lives are not more valuable than the large man but there are more lives put at risk. In regards to the pregnant woman, this is a really hard decision. You always think women and children comes first when it comes to saving but in this case I would have to say the pregnant woman would have to be the life lost. Although she is carrying a child she is still two lives compared to the other explorer lives that are at risk. I'd hate to see anyone go in this case, especially one carrying a child but still two lives lost are better than multiple lives lost.