Would You Kill the Fat Man?

Ethical Philosophy for Fun

Dear Classical Wisdom Reader,

One of my great hopes post election is that political discourse can at least temporarily take a back seat to other conversations. After all, political topics can be exhausting...

So, instead, I thought I’d bring up a bit of ethical philosophy to get folks energized at the start of the week. Nothing like a good moral thought experiment to bring out the best in people... it’s like coffee for the mind!

So let’s start with one of the best... The Trolley problem.

But before we begin on the famed philosophical inquiry, an important reminder to take advantage of our special sale. Right now we are offering our limited first edition hardback anthology - a book 100 years in the making - for the lowest price possible. Whether you want to be part of this important legacy yourself, or gift it to a loved one, you better act fast to ensure delivery in time for the holidays (and before the sale ends!)

Now, back to the trolley problem...

The premise is simple. A train is heading down a track that has five people tied to the rails. There is another track that has only one person tied to the rails. You are standing away from the train next to the switch. Do you pull the switch to change the direction of the train, killing one person, but saving five? Or do you let the train continue its course and kill the five?

While this question has already been cleverly solved by this toddler, philosophers and thinkers are still divided.

Now, the fun doesn’t have to stop there... in fact, there are a series of extended questions relating to the basic dilemma.

One such is offered by Judith Jarvis Thomson:

As before, a trolley is hurtling down a track towards five people. You are on a bridge under which it will pass, and you can stop it by putting something very heavy in front of it. As it happens, there is a very fat man next to you – your only way to stop the trolley is to push him over the bridge and onto the track, killing him to save five. Should you proceed?

Dear reader? What would you do? Would you kill the fat man?

Okay... one more question, before we get into today’s mailbag...

What if.... the fat man was evil? Let’s say, he was the one that tied the other five to the tracks? What then?

As always, you can reply to this email, comment below or write me directly at: anya@classicalwisdom.com

Now, for today, we have a collection of mailbag responses

Enjoy!

All the best,

Anya Leonard
Founder and Director
Classical Wisdom

Monday Mailbag

Re: The Good life

The article on "The Good Life" was a perfect read for me in that I am now reading Levinas' Totality and Infinity and, though rather cumbersome to interpret, it very much relates in that we need to leave the oppressive world of Totality, very moral, and enter Infinity, ethics. One way to infinity is enjoyment and most of all a face-to-face recognizing the Other--and this is not like a Lacanian Other.

--Herman H., San Francisco

Re: What happens when we die?

This was an interesting post. Homer was correct only in that the psyche or soul survives the death of the body.

Since Homer’s time there has been enough experience and knowledge gained that there is less doubt about the reality of an existence after the death of the envelope we occupy during a material life. We discuss it still because the little we actually know conflicts with mainstream religious dogma.

The Tibetans appear to have more knowledge than most and freely accept reincarnation. There are documented cases of past life memory in young children - I have personal experience of this.

There are documented cases of near death experiences and one case I know of personally of a post death experience followed by a return to life (!)

The conclusion is that there is a soul- it is that thinking ‘conscious ‘ part of us that survives, evaluates the life just past and determines what is next on the path to growth. This is the experience of the soul that seeks knowledge and prepares for the end of the current life.

Hell is the total lack of control over the process by those who are unprepared, or have their expectations formed for them by man-made religion.

Mark M.N. PhD

Hi Anya—

Of course there is no afterlife. But the concept does affect how different people LIVE. Those of us realistic ones make sure to live our lives fully and well because we know that this is all we have, so we don’t put things off and live in the NOW. Many people console themselves with the fact that if they have children, their biological legacy will “live on.” And for creative people—like me as an author—we know our work will remain—what happens to it is another story.

Also, belief in an afterlife keeps many folks moral—at least by the tenets of their creed—while still alive, so the belief can be beneficial in encouraging “right behavior” while alive because of judgement coming after death. Belief in an afterlife lets mystically inclined folks feel more comfortable with the whole dying issue, including “getting together” with friends and family after they die. I have a friend who actually believes her husband and dog are taking walks together in heaven right now!

All best,

Alexandra

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As they say, a lot of things will happen after we die, none of which will concern us. Obviously, the afterlife is an all time myth to permit us to bear the burden of being aware of our own mortality, and to keep some order in society in anticipation of an afterlife reward or punishment. But as Mae West put it: “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough”.

Γιώργος Μ.

Re: Should we be afraid of Technology

"Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood." — Marie Curie

Robert M.

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Hi, Anya! Great post by Ben Shehadi, Should We Be Afraid of Technology? I've contemplated this many times, concluding that technology is incompatible with human nature.

I was raised in a cult and had a traumatic and unconventional childhood that continued into adulthood. It wasn't all bad, but a mix of Woodstock and Jesus Freaks with the facade of Baywatch and many wonderful, carefree memories. Those unique experiences nurtured an insatiable curiosity and search for the truth despite my lack of a college degree and many challenges.

I've spent my adult life passionate about health, investing and stock trading, photography, music, human behavior, following cultural and economic trends, and asking difficult questions. Perhaps to counter my childhood indoctrination, establish my sovereignty, and make sense of the world. I believe this gives me a unique perspective on technology and human nature.

That said, we shouldn't fear technology. However, we should prioritize genuine connections offline with family and close friends and not rely too much on technology, especially during a natural disaster such as Hurricane Helene when technology is unavailable, and people must rely on community and traditional methods for survival.

Technology also enables tyranny, propaganda, and censorship to flourish, adds too many layers of complexity, instability, and unreliability to our complex system, and creates less individual freedom, additional stress, and loss of valuable time.

Perhaps there's justified fear of losing technology, however remote. Consider several nuclear bombs strategically detonated in the upper atmosphere above the US or severe solar flares that could destroy our grid and most technology, threatening our survival. The government could protect our infrastructure at the cost of a few billion dollars but refuses to act, instead sending billions to Ukraine and other unconstitutional acts.

That said, there's no turning back unless you join the Amish or live off-grid because modern life is too dependent on technology and its many benefits. This so-called progress is now going exponential, making it impossible to adapt and predict the long-term consequences and distorting our reality, relationships, and what it means to be human.

Dino

[Editor’s Note: I tried this last week to digitally detox and let me tell you - it is near impossible if you are away from home. Trying to organize anything without a phone is impossible. Sure, a years ago you could walk into a hotel without a reservation… but nowadays it’s incredibly unlikely you’ll get a room. Likewise, with a restaurant… or trying to find a taxi. At least, I was able to take a picture:

Anya,

I don't fear new technology, but I do fear some of the people who seem determined to use it in ways that are detrimental to the rest of us. Perhaps they want to see themselves in the role of Zeus, as masters and controllers of the rest of us, using technology as their means of control.

I am confident that in the end they won't succeed, but the damage and harm they may do along the way could be catastrophic, as technology (in various guises) has reached the point that it is conceivable that humanity could be wiped out.

Gordon F.

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Technology is neither good nor evil. IBM designed the punch cards for the Nazis to use in expediting the genocide program employed. Punch cards also were used to improve productivity and improve the standard of living in America.

The Internet was built for military communication before being released to the public. The manipulation and control of free access in Red China and search engine manipulation in America and elsewhere has greatly damaged personal freedom and privacy. Yet the Internet is not bad.

Orwell had a famous scene in 1984. He wrote that the people in control had the power to determine history and truth. Technology is not the problem to fear. The problem worth fear is How sinful man employs it and on whom. Orwell understood this dystopian result. We apparently do not.

Charles F.