This is the problem I have with the trolly problem. This website right here.

EVERYONE, and I mean EVERYONE gets hung up on whether you should pull the lever or not. That’s not the point of the trolly problem AT ALL.

The point is to consider whether you pull the lever or not, are you responsible for the outcome. It’s a question of ethics. You didn’t put anyone in this situation, but you have the ability to do something. If you do nothing, are you responsible for the deaths of the four/five/whatever people? If you act and do something, and only one person dies, are you responsible for that persons death, now that you’ve been an active participant in choosing one over the other?

For anyone still confused how that’s not “do you kill one or four people” - think about this very similar, but differently portrayed problem that has the same moral dilemma: You’re walking down the street, and you see a homeless person, they’re begging for food, you have half of your footlong subway sandwich left over from lunch; but when you pass by, instead of giving them the sandwich, you continue walking, keeping your sandwich for later. That person, unbeknownst to you, later dies of starvation. Are you responsible for their death?

THATS THE QUESTION. not whether you’d pull the lever or not, not whether you would give someone the leftovers from lunch… the question is literally, ARE YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR KILLING SOMEONE, either by action or inaction. I don’t think that anyone would disagree that killing 1 person vs killing 4/5/whatever people is a “better” choice (not a good choice, just one that’s less bad). Thus that’s NOT the question. The question is, since you didn’t CREATE the situation that these people are in, by doing nothing, when you could have done something, are you responsible, and conversely, by doing something, when you could have done nothing, that leads to someone’s demise, are you responsible then?

Jesus.