J. van Baardwijk wrote:

>Other example. The plane I am piloting (with 100 people on board) 
>experiences massive technical problems and is about to crash into 
>downtown LA during rush hour. When it hits the ground, as many as a 
>few thousand people could die. In an attempt to prevent that, I 
>decide to change course and let the plane crash into the ocean, 
>killing everyone on board.  Essentially, it is *me* who decides that 
>100 people must die.
> 
>Is my decision evil because I willingly send 100 people to their 
>deaths, or is my decision good because I save a few thousand lives 
>by sacrificing 100 lives?

Given that the implication is that those 100 people will die either way, it's not 
really a trade though.  So I'd go with crashing into the ocean.

OTOH, the people on the ground *are* soulless Los Angeles folks... ;-)

Jim

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