← Famous thought dilemmas
Dilemma 7 of 10
The Omelas Dilemma
A utopian city thrives — but only because one child is locked away in misery. If you lived there, would you walk away?
Imagine
You open a door and discover the hidden cost of everyone’s joy.
Origin
From Ursula K. Le Guin’s short story “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” (1973).
Ask yourself
Can happiness be built on someone else’s suffering?
Only you can see this. It stays in this browser and is never sent to us.
Show all ten dilemmasHide the list
- 01The Trolley ProblemDoes saving more lives outweigh taking a life through your action?→
- 02The Experience MachineWould you trade truth for the feeling of joy?→
- 03The Ship of TheseusWhat makes you you — the parts, or the continuity?→
- 04The Heinz DilemmaDoes morality bend for love — or for survival?→
- 05Buridan’s AssCan indecision itself be a dangerous decision?→
- 06The Bystander EffectWhat makes someone take the first step to help?→
- 07The Omelas DilemmaCan happiness be built on someone else’s suffering?→
- 08The Prisoner’s DilemmaIs mutual trust stronger than self-preservation?→
- 09Experience vs. MemoryDo we live for how things feel in the moment — or how we recall them?→
- 10The Lifeboat DilemmaWho decides who’s worth saving when not everyone can be?→