5 ms·
Would your answer change if you were stuck on the trolley quite literally for eternity, rather than just the remainder of your biological life?
by tmlb 4y ago
Would your answer change if you were stuck on the trolley quite literally for eternity, rather than just the remainder of your biological life?
- s0teri0s 4y agoMy response, to leave them there was based on 1) not taking lives as a result of my decision, and 2) if they're alive, they might eventually find a way to stop the trolley and get off. My choice gives them that chance, in my opinion.
- JonathanFly 4y agoIf it were truly the one single opportunity I will ever have to choose to stop existing, it's a tougher choice for sure. But on the other hand, I might be so curious about what in the heck happened in the world outside - the world that led to this universe where it will be impossible for me to die for eternity, and somehow I know this with absolute 100% certainty - that I still opt out.
- amelius 4y agoWell, perhaps it is not possible to die in this universe, and there are several takes on this idea, see e.g. quantum suicide on wikipedia, or perhaps time starts looping (e.g. you reincarnate as yourself), or perhaps you even reincarnate as somebody else (in the future or in the past). Remember: we know very little about what is time and consciousness. The "you have solved philosophy" message at the end of the game is very far from the truth.
- makeitdouble 4y agoOn a serious note, it feels worse in every case that the end of your life is in the hand of an external actor. Best case scenario you can do what you want and deal with whatever urge you have at your pace. Worst case scenario you don't have agency, and just stay stuck suffering instead of dying. Personally I'd take the chance.
- brewdad 4y agoWould it change if you were stuck on the trolley with the type of people that seem to occupy my city's transit now that fare enforcement no longer happens and no one is asked to leave the trolley at the end of the line?
- ars 4y agoThat depends - am I bored for eternity, or is there interesting stuff for me to do?
- bobsmooth 4y agoYou're stuck on a trolley.
- gwd 4y ago...but do I have an internet connection and a laptop? When they invent VR, can I have one of those?
- darkerside 4y agoPassengers implies there are other people. Some find human interaction entertaining.
- ohgodplsno 4y agoMaybe, maybe not. You won't know until you're aboard the trolley.
- thriftwy 4y agoIf I live for an eternity I figure out how to make my own big bangs eventually, all while still being on the trolley.
- red75prime 4y ago> stuck on the trolley quite literally for eternity What "literally" means in this case? Am I completely certain that I'll be stuck on the trolley for eternity? I would think that I'm having a psychotic break and delay my decision.
- utucuro 4y agoLiterally, as in, if a passenger finds a way of getting out of the trolley somehow, they will be put back in so the thought experiment can continue working as intended. Absurd amendment to an absurd trolley problem.
- red75prime 4y agoThat is I'm literally in a hell eternal. That will take time to sink in.
- soco 4y agoDoes the trolley have toilets?
- addandsubtract 4y agoNo, but it also doesn't have food or drinks. So where you're going, you won't need toilets.
- soco 4y agoIt's gonna be a short eternity in that case...
- runeks 4y agoWhy would I kill myself (or someone else) just because I’m granted eternal life? Seems absurd to me. 50 more years to live? Okay. 50+? Kill me immediately!