tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755195.post1698407421868832333..comments2023-09-25T04:26:51.568-06:00Comments on The Barefoot Bum: Linking different views of ethicsLarry Hamelinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08788697573946266404noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755195.post-89081098698007249002010-10-15T11:55:54.386-06:002010-10-15T11:55:54.386-06:00The trolley problem reminds me of teaching intro p...The trolley problem reminds me of teaching intro physics. Intro physics students intuitively understand that in order to move an object, you need to push it. So when you talk about a block sliding on a frictionless surface, they think there must be some force to keep it in motion.<br /><br />We intuitively understand that it's wrong to push a heavy person in front of a train in order to stop it from running over five other people. So even when we state that outcomes are certain, we still think it must be better to let five people die rather than one.<br /><br />The difference between the two situations, is that in physics we know the theory is right and our intuition wrong, because we have empirical observations to back it up. In ethics, intuition is a source of ethical knowledge, so we instead think that the underlying theory (ie pragmatism) must be wrong. But sometimes our intuition is just dumb.millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05990852054891771988noreply@blogger.com