Ethical Dilemmas

Today, I'm gonna talk about dilemmas, the ethical dilemmas. Like scientists, philosophers use experiments too. But they use experiments for test their theories. Unlike scientists, their experiments do not require laboratories, technicians etc. They occur in the mind, and start with 'What if...'.

Here are the well-known 2 examples:

1- Thomson's Violinist

"One day, you wake up in hospital. In the nearby bed lies a world famous violinist who is 

connected to you with various tubes and machines. To your horror, you discover that you have been kidnapped by the Music Appreciation Society. Aware of the maestro's impending death, they hooked you up to the violinist. If you stay in the hospital bed, connected to the violinist, he will be totally cured in nine months. You are unlikely to suffer harm. No one else can save him. Do you have an obligation to stay connected?"  

In 'violinist' scenario, someone else's circulatory system is plugged into yours against your will so that your kidneys can filter both blood streams. Disconnection means death to the violinist, the someone plugged into you. The curing operation may be nine months.

2- The Cave Explorers

"An enormous rock falls and blocks the exit of a cave you and five other tourists have been exploring. Fortunately, you spot a hole elsewhere and decide to let "Big Jack" out first. But Big Jack, a man of generous proportions, gets stuck in the hole. He cannot be moved and there is no other way out. The high tide is rising and, unless you get out soon, everyone but Big Jack (whose head is sticking out of the cave. will inevitably drown. Searching through your backpack, you find a stick of dynamite. It will not move the rock, but  will certainly blast Big Jack out of the hole. Big Jack, anticipating your thoughts, pleads for his life. He does not want to die, but neither do you and your four companions. Should you blast Big Jack out?

If the roles were reversed, what would you advise your trapped companions to do?"

In 'the cave explorers' scenario, you and your companies are be at bay in a cave. And the only way out to survive is blast Big Jack with the dynamites which are you found in your bag. If you don't blast Big Jack out of the hole, you and your companies will die. You have to decide to kill or let die.