Moral Dilemmas of the Trolley Case
Introduction
The Principle of Utility
The Principle of Utility, or the Greatest Happiness Principle, actions that are the right actions when the result of the action brings about happiness. If the action results in the opposite of happiness, the action is not in accordance with the Principle of Utility. As John Stuart Mill explains it in the book Utilitarianism, “By happiness is intended pleasure, and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain, and the privation of pleasure”. Happiness is attributed to pleasure as a human emotion .For a clear understanding of what sense of happiness is used in regards to the Principle of Utility, consider this explanation of happiness. Humans attribute things that feel good or things that make them feel good as happiness. Also, humans attribute things that don’t happen favorable or it causes some kind of pain to unhappiness.
The Formula of Humanity
Actions that are in accordance with the Formula of Humanity require that human beings do not use other human beings as a mere mean to their end. For instance, if a politician is running for a position of public office, the politician would need a majority vote from the voting public. In this case, winning the election is the politicians end. The voters are the means in which the politician needs to obtain the desired end. …show more content…
The reason why this option would be chosen, is because if the switch is not applied, the trolley would kill both Moe and Larry, not Curly. The sum of people killed when the switch is applied is lower than if the switch is not applied. Having two people die instead of one would result in pain experienced by two people instead of one. Also there would be more families grieving if the switch is not applied. More pain and grief is not in accordance with the Principle of
Introduction
The Principle of Utility
The Principle of Utility, or the Greatest Happiness Principle, actions that are the right actions when the result of the action brings about happiness. If the action results in the opposite of happiness, the action is not in accordance with the Principle of Utility. As John Stuart Mill explains it in the book Utilitarianism, “By happiness is intended pleasure, and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain, and the privation of pleasure”. Happiness is attributed to pleasure as a human emotion .For a clear understanding of what sense of happiness is used in regards to the Principle of Utility, consider this explanation of happiness. Humans attribute things that feel good or things that make them feel good as happiness. Also, humans attribute things that don’t happen favorable or it causes some kind of pain to unhappiness.
The Formula of Humanity
Actions that are in accordance with the Formula of Humanity require that human beings do not use other human beings as a mere mean to their end. For instance, if a politician is running for a position of public office, the politician would need a majority vote from the voting public. In this case, winning the election is the politicians end. The voters are the means in which the politician needs to obtain the desired end. …show more content…
The reason why this option would be chosen, is because if the switch is not applied, the trolley would kill both Moe and Larry, not Curly. The sum of people killed when the switch is applied is lower than if the switch is not applied. Having two people die instead of one would result in pain experienced by two people instead of one. Also there would be more families grieving if the switch is not applied. More pain and grief is not in accordance with the Principle of