Moral dilemmas and questions are something that individuals face daily. In cases with a clear answer, most people will follow their code of ethics without giving it much thought. When people consider how they have navigated the moral sea, their ethics become clear. The trolley dilemma is an example of a situation in which a person must use morals to decide the best course of action. This essay will examine the perspectives of Deontology, Utilitarianism, and Virtue Ethics theories in order to determine which theory provides the best solution in such a situation.
Background
Philippa Foot introduced the trolley problem as a moral conundrum in 1967. Diverting a runaway trolley onto a track with only one person saves the lives of five people who would otherwise be killed if the trolley is not diverted. Whether it is morally permissible to kill one person to save many raises serious ethical concerns. The dilemma typically frames the problem as binary, with only one potentially disastrous outcome. Taking no action to stop the trolley and letting it continue on its route will result in the death of five. Only one person dies if the trolley is deliberately diverted onto a different track. When one life is lost compared to the number of lives that can be saved, it raises an ethical quandary that needs to be analyzed critically.
Objective
The primary goal of this essay is to provide an interpretation of the trolley problem from the perspectives of Deontology, Utilitarianism, and Virtue Ethics. It will elaborate on how the theories are relevant to the situation and how they result in divergent moral conclusions about what should be done in this ethical conundrum. The objective is to show the application of the appropriate ethical theories in various situations.
Methodology
The primary focus of this essay will be a review of the scholarly literature concerning the trolley problem and the three different ethical theories. The fundamental principles of each theory will be extracted from these sources, and the discussion will focus on how those principles relate to the trolley problem. Deontology, a moral philosophy, places a high value on acting morally simply because the authority requires it. Applying a set of rules and responsibilities that one is obligated to follow regardless of their situation determines whether certain behaviors are moral or immoral (Misselbrook, 2021). According to the deontological school of thought, the solution to the trolley problem would be to save all people involved rather than just one (Gibert, 2022). It is more important to avoid causing harm to others than it is to improve the lives of others to conform to the concept of non-maleficence.
Utilitarianism moral theory prioritizes doing the best for the most people possible. The utilitarian would argue that the right thing to do in the trolley problem is to direct the trolley toward one person to save the five’s lives (Gibert, 2022). Utilitarianism, or the pursuit of maximum happiness, would be the deciding factor here since the choice taken results in few casualties. Virtue Ethics theory focuses on admirable traits of personality and conduct of individuals faced with the dilemma. As exemplified by Vsauce (2017), compassionate people will choose to direct the trolley toward a single victim. Therefore, taking this stance, an individual’s moral actions in a given situation are contingent on the individual’s character.
Results
The non-maleficence principle, guided by the desire not to cause harm to others, is considered in a deontological analysis of the trolley problem. It is immoral, according to this doctrine, to save the lives of five people by sacrificing the life of one (Gibert, 2022). According to the deontological conclusion that can be drawn from this scenario, saving one person’s life at the expense of five others would be immoral hence the need to save all six, which is impossible. Vsauce (2017) exemplifies this well, as some participants could not decide which lives to save and which to sacrifice because they felt obligated not to cause harm. Given the moral obligation to care for others and not cause harm, a person faced with this dilemma would refrain from acting because either action would result in the loss of lives, and the person would not want to be directly liable for the single person’s death.
Functional analysis of the trolley problem would consider the principle of utility, which holds that the best course of action is the one that leads to saving many people’s lives. The optimal value, in this view, is the one that helps the most people in most situations (Misselbrook, 2021). Therefore, the right course of action is the one that makes the most people happy or satisfied despite negatively affecting a few. In order to save as many lives as possible, it is morally acceptable to risk one’s own life if doing so will save five. It is exemplified by two participants in Vsauce (2017) that decided to save five lives at the expense of one. Utilitarian analysis suggests that the best way to ensure the safety of the remaining five passengers is to send the trolley in the direction that results in the fewest casualties.
The virtues of the decision-maker are the ethical principle taken into account when examining the trolley problem from a virtue ethics perspective. For instance, a compassionate person might choose to direct the trolley towards a single victim to minimize casualties. From the virtue ethics perspective, the morality of a given course of action is contingent on the character of the person choosing that course of action. Given that the three theories arrive at different moral judgments when applied to the trolley problem, deducing that the problem is open to multiple interpretations is valid since various factors are to be considered regarding the individual faced with the dilemma. According to deontology, which places a premium on moral norms and duties, killing an innocent person is always wrong. According to utilitarianism, it is right to take one person’s life if it will result in the greatest good for the most significant number of people. In contrast, the central tenet of virtue ethics is that the morality of an individual’s action is contingent upon their moral character.
Discussion
After considering the trolley problem from deontology, utilitarianism, and virtue ethics perspectives, utilitarianism offers the most satisfactory solution for the problematic situation. The doctrine’s strength focuses on the best for the most people, which in this case would be saving the lives of all five individuals. When faced with a complex ethical conundrum, the principle of utility can help the individual to make a clear and objective choice (Gibert, 2022). However, the Utilitarian viewpoint has the flaw of disregarding the rights and moral worth of the single victim of the sacrifice. The Utilitarian principle prioritizes the happiness of the group as a whole over any ethical considerations that might arise from a particular decision, such as whether or not an innocent person should be killed. It, however, causes ethical conundrums in which some people’s rights must be compromised for the sake of the majority.
The problem with the utilitarian approach is that it needs to consider the reasons behind the decision. People give up everything they have, either for their good or to absolve themselves of all responsibility for their actions. People could find themselves in precarious moral situations in which their actions are driven less by a concern for the greater good than by their egotistical pursuits (Misselbrook, 2021). Philippa Foot, the author of the original article, touched on a few of the outcomes that can be expected from a utilitarian viewpoint. She contends that the utilitarian principle, while it may be able to rationalize the death of one person in the trolley problem, can also rationalize the death of a large number of innocent people in war and the use of the death penalty. It demonstrates why the utilitarian principle and its applications to problems that occur in the real world need to be thoroughly researched.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the trolley problem is a complex moral conundrum that can be viewed from the perspective of different ethical doctrines. When making ethical decisions, it is essential to think through each theory’s ramifications and be cognizant of one’s biases and values. As it places value on doing the best for the most people, utilitarianism offers the most optimal solution to the trolley problem. It is not perfect because it does not account for the decision-maker’s character or the feelings of those who will be negatively impacted. Therefore, when making ethical decisions, it is good to consider this principle’s practical implications and limitations.
References
Gibert, M. (2022). The case for Virtuous Robots. AI and Ethics, 1046. Web.
Misselbrook, D. (2021). The trolley problem, 2021 style. British Journal of General Practice, 71(703), 75–75. Web.
Vsauce. (2017). The Trolley Problem in Real Life. YouTube. Web.