A dilemma that pops up a lot in academic fields, but also one that I think does disservice to the ideas of classical education.
(before I begin, I want to empasise that this is not a comment/slight to the post, as I think it is a fun topic for discussion; I just saw an opportunity to raise something that I have discussed with others in the past)
I believe one of the better (aporetic) answers to this question was actually provided in the second season of 'The Good Place' -- I will not discuss it here, as it is an excellent series that I think people should go in blind.
I have often brought up this dilemma only to show how incongruous it is with Liberal Arts (my field)/Classical Education and philosophical thought -- or (human life), in general.
I do wonder whether any Socratic philosopher would take this problem positively; Socrates would probably say we can only know that we cannot know what would be the right action at that moment, meaning we can never know what our action would be in that moment, let alone what the right action would be.
Aristotle would probably say that such artificial scenarios are not proper reflections/experiences of human life; as such, they might be limited in what they have to offer... or he would say one ought to take the right action in the right moment and in the right mindset and reasoning... which, yeah, not much of an answer.
Finally, the stoic, well, depends on who you ask, so I might just go with Seneca here, who might say that if we want to be fair judges in all matters, let’s first convince ourselves that none of us is without fault; as such, how can we ever fairly judge who is fat or evil in such situation....
So, what I am saying is that moral strength is defined by how one behaves in times of stress, and while this problem provides a fun topic for discussion, it does little justice to the complex reality of life -- one cannot calculate ethical values and moral decisions, the moment that one begins to dissect and analyse them, they seize to be... alive (thus, true)... Instead, life tends to generate/bring up ethical questions that we have to face again and again (hence, the call for the examined life)...
(Yes, I know, I would be fun at parties... if only someone ever invited me to one)
I love it! What a wonderful way to approach a philosophical exercise than the employ different philosophical schools of thought. Fascinating to compare how each would consider the dilemma. Sounds like you would be good fun at our parties - ha ha!
Just as a funny, coincidental aside: Our previous managing editor actually makes knives from scratch in the Patagonian mountains… they are gorgeous: https://www.forgedinpatagonia.com/
they truly are gorgeous!! from scratch is such a craft! tysm for sharing this. the synchronicity too! i am beginning training in wing chuns dual wielded butterfly knives this weekend. i love knives in my close combat practice. but wing chun knives are like swords. and im afraid to train. my sifu & i were just talking about after i finish the knives grade we will find someone to help us make me my own butterfly knives. so who knows?! thanks again!! ✨✨
I could kill the fat man. Only I would have to pay the price. What if the tied up people were all evil?
An excellent addition to the dilemma...
A dilemma that pops up a lot in academic fields, but also one that I think does disservice to the ideas of classical education.
(before I begin, I want to empasise that this is not a comment/slight to the post, as I think it is a fun topic for discussion; I just saw an opportunity to raise something that I have discussed with others in the past)
I believe one of the better (aporetic) answers to this question was actually provided in the second season of 'The Good Place' -- I will not discuss it here, as it is an excellent series that I think people should go in blind.
I have often brought up this dilemma only to show how incongruous it is with Liberal Arts (my field)/Classical Education and philosophical thought -- or (human life), in general.
I do wonder whether any Socratic philosopher would take this problem positively; Socrates would probably say we can only know that we cannot know what would be the right action at that moment, meaning we can never know what our action would be in that moment, let alone what the right action would be.
Aristotle would probably say that such artificial scenarios are not proper reflections/experiences of human life; as such, they might be limited in what they have to offer... or he would say one ought to take the right action in the right moment and in the right mindset and reasoning... which, yeah, not much of an answer.
Finally, the stoic, well, depends on who you ask, so I might just go with Seneca here, who might say that if we want to be fair judges in all matters, let’s first convince ourselves that none of us is without fault; as such, how can we ever fairly judge who is fat or evil in such situation....
So, what I am saying is that moral strength is defined by how one behaves in times of stress, and while this problem provides a fun topic for discussion, it does little justice to the complex reality of life -- one cannot calculate ethical values and moral decisions, the moment that one begins to dissect and analyse them, they seize to be... alive (thus, true)... Instead, life tends to generate/bring up ethical questions that we have to face again and again (hence, the call for the examined life)...
(Yes, I know, I would be fun at parties... if only someone ever invited me to one)
I love it! What a wonderful way to approach a philosophical exercise than the employ different philosophical schools of thought. Fascinating to compare how each would consider the dilemma. Sounds like you would be good fun at our parties - ha ha!
Trying to untie the ropes and failing is something I could live with.
real talk if u pull out ur huge knife to cut the ropes. some of the people u just saved will wokescold u for carrying a knife. im not kidding
True - though depends on where said train tracks are! We just came from Patagonia - plenty of knives there ;-)
touche, great point. also id like to go to Patagonia !!
Just as a funny, coincidental aside: Our previous managing editor actually makes knives from scratch in the Patagonian mountains… they are gorgeous: https://www.forgedinpatagonia.com/
they truly are gorgeous!! from scratch is such a craft! tysm for sharing this. the synchronicity too! i am beginning training in wing chuns dual wielded butterfly knives this weekend. i love knives in my close combat practice. but wing chun knives are like swords. and im afraid to train. my sifu & i were just talking about after i finish the knives grade we will find someone to help us make me my own butterfly knives. so who knows?! thanks again!! ✨✨