Trolley Dilemma/ Moral Machine
Post a 500 word response to each of the following:
Trolley Dilemma
- Would you switch the lever or push the man over the bridge? Explain your decision.
- Describe the distinguishing factor between the switching of the lever and the act of pushing the man.
Moral Machine
- Would you switch the lever or push the man over the bridge? Explain your decision.
- Describe the distinguishing factor between the switching of the lever and the act of pushing the man.
2 Most Important References:
Neuroethics & the Trolley Dilemma
A five-minute introduction to an intriguing moral problem and what it tells us about how we decide what is right and what is wrong.
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 5 minutes (on youtube)
Other aids:
Public Service Ethics: Individual and Institutional Responsibilities
Chapter 3, “Values, Ethics, and Dilemmas” (pp. 41-57)
Chapter 4, “Moral Development Theory” (pp. 58-74)
Bowman, J. S., & West, J. P. (2015).
Blind Spots
Chapter 2, “Why Traditional Approaches to Ethics Won’t Save You” (pp. 24-37)
Bazerman, M., & Tenbrunsel, A. (2011).
To Serve with Honor: Doing the Right Thing in Government
Chapter 2, “Is There an Ethics Issue and Are You Responsible for Addressing It?” (pp. 22-31)
Newell, T. (2015).
https://www.huffpost.com/
Damon Horowitz: We need a “moral operating system”
Damon Horowitz reviews the enormous new powers that technology gives us: to know more — and more about each other — than ever before. Drawing the audience into a philosophical discussion, Horowitz invites us to pay new attention to the basic philosophy — the ethical principles — behind the burst of invention remaking our world. Where’s the moral operating system that allows us to make sense of it?
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 16 minutes
Philip Zimbardo: The Psychology of Evil
Philip Zimbardo knows how easy it is for nice people to turn bad. In this talk, he shares insights and graphic unseen photos from the Abu Ghraib trials. Then he talks about the flip side: how easy it is to be a hero, and how we can rise to the challenge.
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 23 minutes
Human Morality – Marc Hauser – 1
This is the first part of an edited lecture by Marc Hauser. It moves from various philosophical theories of morality to social science research into moral dilemmas, leading up to the Trolley Problem.
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 6 minutes
Human Morality – Marc Hauser – 2
This is the second part of an edited version of Marc Hauser’s lecture on human moral psychology.
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 6 minutes
Answer preview
Part one- Trolley Dilemma
The society we are living in today demands more ethical behavior from individuals and even organizations. However, although society demands this, there are many ethical dilemmas that people experience on a daily basis, and they have to rely on their moral intuitions to solve them. In most cases, emotional reactions prevent individuals from making appropriate decisions by applying moral judgment. With that in mind, many ethicists believe that some people encounter ethical dilemmas and respond to them intentionally while others believe that unethical behavior can arise unintentionally….
(1050 words)