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I hope this isn't a famous essay because browsing through it makes me suspect the writer was paid by the page. I see from Wikipedia that the writer is a profess

by roenxi 3y ago

I hope this isn't a famous essay because browsing through it makes me suspect the writer was paid by the page. I see from Wikipedia that the writer is a professional philosopher. In some sense this is a look into the pre-internet style. Waffle about Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi's ornate, neogothic/baroque designs would be good material for the dinner table if someone with no other access to information. But if the point of this is to explore the trolley problem it is a distraction. There is a certain sort of person who owns a large bookcase in which the most treasured book (indeed, the only one in the room to be thoroughly thumbed) is "100 Books to Read Before You Die". They'd probably get a lot out of the writing style here.

keepamovin 3y ago
Very dinner party of you. Deftly avoiding addressing the ethical considerations of the trolley problem, while discussing the style of the essay!--much like you say the paper does in your criticism of it! Hahaha! :) I guess that's one solution to the trolley problem: avoid it completely! Haha :) Tho as I learned just now from another comment here, that's call "moral indulgence", the desire to keep one's hands clean. I'll show my cards then (otherwise it seems unfair, tut-tutting you for avoiding the problem while avoiding it myself! :)), if I imagine I'm facing this in real life right now, here's what I'd do: I will save the many and sacrifice the few. I'd feel bad about it tho, and apologize to the family of the life I took, and try to contribute to their lives in an attempt to make it easier on them, knowing that nothing could make it up to them. Eventually, I'd probably move on with the understanding: I don't know if it was the right thing, but it was necessary, and I did it. I don't feel good about the life I took, but I'm happy about the ones that I saved. Mixed-feelings, that's life. It is scary tho to say what you'd do, because you feel someone's about to judge you. Oh well...I suppose that's one of the points of this :)
kcplate 3y ago
> it makes me suspect the writer was paid by the page 22 pages before the book begins…no thanks. Maybe someone will TlDr it.

by roenxi 3y ago

keepamovin 3y ago

Very dinner party of you. Deftly avoiding addressing the ethical considerations of the trolley problem, while discussing the style of the essay!--much like you say the paper does in your criticism of it! Hahaha! :) I guess that's one solution to the trolley problem: avoid it completely! Haha :) Tho as I learned just now from another comment here, that's call "moral indulgence", the desire to keep one's hands clean. I'll show my cards then (otherwise it seems unfair, tut-tutting you for avoiding the problem while avoiding it myself! :)), if I imagine I'm facing this in real life right now, here's what I'd do: I will save the many and sacrifice the few. I'd feel bad about it tho, and apologize to the family of the life I took, and try to contribute to their lives in an attempt to make it easier on them, knowing that nothing could make it up to them. Eventually, I'd probably move on with the understanding: I don't know if it was the right thing, but it was necessary, and I did it. I don't feel good about the life I took, but I'm happy about the ones that I saved. Mixed-feelings, that's life. It is scary tho to say what you'd do, because you feel someone's about to judge you. Oh well...I suppose that's one of the points of this :)

kcplate 3y ago

> it makes me suspect the writer was paid by the page 22 pages before the book begins…no thanks. Maybe someone will TlDr it.