← Famous thought dilemmas

Dilemma 1 of 10

The Trolley Problem

A runaway trolley is headed toward five people on the tracks. You can pull a lever to divert it to another track — but there’s one person there. Do you pull the lever?

Imagine

You’re standing by the lever. You see faces on both tracks. You have three seconds.

Origin

Introduced by philosopher Philippa Foot in 1967; expanded by Judith Jarvis Thomson.

Ask yourself

Does saving more lives outweigh taking a life through your action?

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Show all ten dilemmas
  1. 01The Trolley ProblemDoes saving more lives outweigh taking a life through your action?→
  2. 02The Experience MachineWould you trade truth for the feeling of joy?→
  3. 03The Ship of TheseusWhat makes you you — the parts, or the continuity?→
  4. 04The Heinz DilemmaDoes morality bend for love — or for survival?→
  5. 05Buridan’s AssCan indecision itself be a dangerous decision?→
  6. 06The Bystander EffectWhat makes someone take the first step to help?→
  7. 07The Omelas DilemmaCan happiness be built on someone else’s suffering?→
  8. 08The Prisoner’s DilemmaIs mutual trust stronger than self-preservation?→
  9. 09Experience vs. MemoryDo we live for how things feel in the moment — or how we recall them?→
  10. 10The Lifeboat DilemmaWho decides who’s worth saving when not everyone can be?→