The Trolley Problem: A Comparison of Utilitarianism and Virtue Ethics
Please view the brief video below and complete the prompts:
The Trolley Problem - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOpf6KcWYyw
Respond to one of the following prompts:
Should you push the man onto the track and stop the trolley, killing one person to save
the lives of five other people? Contrast what a utilitarian would say using its core
principles of welfare, impartiality, sum-ranking, and consequences with what a virtue
ethicist would say according to its core principles of telos, virtue, eudaimonia, and
practical wisdom. Use appropriate textual evidence to back up your claim. Which of the
ethical theories you discussed do you believe provides the best account of what the
morally correct action to take is and why? (USLOs 4.1, 4.2, 4.3)
, Introduction
The Trolley Problem is one of the most well-known thought experiments in moral
philosophy, posing complex questions about ethics, morality, and human values. It
presents a moral dilemma where one must choose between taking an action that results in
the death of one person to save several others or refraining from action and allowing
more people to die. This paper examines the second variation of the Trolley Problem—
pushing a man onto the tracks to stop the trolley—and contrasts the perspectives of
utilitarianism and virtue ethics. By exploring their core principles, including welfare,
consequences, virtue, and eudaimonia, this discussion seeks to determine which ethical
theory provides a more compelling framework for moral action.
Utilitarian Perspective
From a utilitarian perspective, the moral worth of an action is determined by its
consequences, specifically in maximizing overall happiness or minimizing suffering.
Founded by philosophers Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, utilitarianism operates
under four key principles: welfare, impartiality, sum-ranking, and consequences. In the
context of the Trolley Problem, a utilitarian would argue that pushing one man to save
five is the morally correct choice because it produces the greatest good for the greatest
number of people (Mill, 1863).
The principle of welfare prioritizes outcomes that enhance well-being, even if it requires
harming one individual. Impartiality demands that each person’s life be considered
equally valuable, meaning that saving five lives outweighs the loss of one. Sum-ranking
evaluates total happiness, and the principle of consequences determines morality by
Please view the brief video below and complete the prompts:
The Trolley Problem - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOpf6KcWYyw
Respond to one of the following prompts:
Should you push the man onto the track and stop the trolley, killing one person to save
the lives of five other people? Contrast what a utilitarian would say using its core
principles of welfare, impartiality, sum-ranking, and consequences with what a virtue
ethicist would say according to its core principles of telos, virtue, eudaimonia, and
practical wisdom. Use appropriate textual evidence to back up your claim. Which of the
ethical theories you discussed do you believe provides the best account of what the
morally correct action to take is and why? (USLOs 4.1, 4.2, 4.3)
, Introduction
The Trolley Problem is one of the most well-known thought experiments in moral
philosophy, posing complex questions about ethics, morality, and human values. It
presents a moral dilemma where one must choose between taking an action that results in
the death of one person to save several others or refraining from action and allowing
more people to die. This paper examines the second variation of the Trolley Problem—
pushing a man onto the tracks to stop the trolley—and contrasts the perspectives of
utilitarianism and virtue ethics. By exploring their core principles, including welfare,
consequences, virtue, and eudaimonia, this discussion seeks to determine which ethical
theory provides a more compelling framework for moral action.
Utilitarian Perspective
From a utilitarian perspective, the moral worth of an action is determined by its
consequences, specifically in maximizing overall happiness or minimizing suffering.
Founded by philosophers Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, utilitarianism operates
under four key principles: welfare, impartiality, sum-ranking, and consequences. In the
context of the Trolley Problem, a utilitarian would argue that pushing one man to save
five is the morally correct choice because it produces the greatest good for the greatest
number of people (Mill, 1863).
The principle of welfare prioritizes outcomes that enhance well-being, even if it requires
harming one individual. Impartiality demands that each person’s life be considered
equally valuable, meaning that saving five lives outweighs the loss of one. Sum-ranking
evaluates total happiness, and the principle of consequences determines morality by
