Would You Kill The Fat Man? by David Edmonds
- 1. "Would You Kill The Fat Man?" by David Edmonds is a thought-provoking exploration of ethical dilemmas through the lens of moral philosophy and decision-making. The book delves into the famous 'trolley problem,' which posits a scenario in which a person must choose between pulling a lever to divert a runaway trolley onto a track where it will kill one person instead of allowing it to continue on its path to kill five others. Edmonds expands this moral quandary by introducing the 'fat man' variant, where the reader must consider whether it's justifiable to push an overweight individual off a bridge to stop the trolley and save the lives of several people. Through engaging narratives and insightful discussions, Edmonds examines various ethical theories such as utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics, illustrating how different philosophical perspectives can lead to vastly different conclusions about the same moral question. The book challenges readers to reflect on their own moral intuitions and the implications of their choices, making it not only a philosophical inquiry but also a personal examination of values and ethics in the face of life-and-death situations.
The 'trolley problem' was originally developed by which philosopher?
A) Judith Jarvis Thomson
B) Peter Singer
C) Philippa Foot
D) Immanuel Kant
- 2. What is the 'fat man' version of the trolley problem?
A) Asking an obese person to move faster
B) Pushing a large person off a bridge to stop the trolley
C) Redistributing food from the wealthy
D) Choosing which overweight person to save
- 3. According to Edmonds, what do most people choose in the switch scenario?
A) Sacrifice themselves instead
B) Do nothing and let five die
C) Try to warn everyone
D) Pull the switch to save five
- 4. How do most people respond to the fat man scenario?
A) Push the fat man without hesitation
B) Look for an alternative solution
C) Refuse to push the fat man
D) Ask the fat man to jump
- 5. The 'loop' variant involves what modification?
A) There are multiple fat men
B) The tracks form a circle
C) The trolley can fly
D) The single person is on the track loop
- 6. What does 'trolleyology' refer to in the book?
A) The history of public transportation
B) A new branch of mathematics
C) The study of trolley problems
D) The psychology of weight loss
- 7. How do brain scans relate to trolley problems?
A) Different brain areas activate for different scenarios
B) Emotional areas are always dominant
C) All moral decisions use the same brain region
D) Rational areas are never involved
- 8. The 'transplant' problem analogy involves what?
A) Killing one patient to save five with organs
B) Vaccination ethics
C) Genetic engineering decisions
D) Choosing which patient gets treatment
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