Different moral schemas are activated in different hypotheticals. Extreme measures are appropriate in what feel like "extreme" circumstances (kidnappers on an island; killer trolley), but not in normal circumstances. The killing Bill hypothetical occurs in a situation that is applicable every moment of every day. We can always kill someone for his organs and save other people. But if that were our everyday morality, there'd be a lot of institutionalized killing of innocents. I think the point here is that "everyday" morality differs from "extreme situation" morality.
On Feb 7, 3:24 am, Vamadevananda <[email protected]> wrote: > Sorry, I missed the word " not." > > The line must read : In your other instances, the likely victims do > not have that. > > On Feb 7, 11:21 am, Vamadevananda <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Does Bill have a voice in the decision, Pavan ? > > > In your other instances, the likely victims do have that. > > > On Feb 7, 9:25 am, Pavan Kolachoor <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > This is a famous philosophical question posted by > > > BBC.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7739493.stm > > > > I never got an opportunity to discuss this with anybody, your thoughts > > > please. > > > > *1. SHOULD WE KILL HEALTHY PEOPLE FOR THEIR ORGANS?* > > > > Suppose Bill is a healthy man without family or loved ones. Would it be ok > > > painlessly to kill him if his organs would save five people, one of whom > > > needs a heart, another a kidney, and so on? If not, why not? > > > > Consider another case: you and six others are kidnapped, and the kidnapper > > > somehow persuades you that if you shoot dead one of the other hostages, he > > > will set the remaining five free, whereas if you do not, he will shoot all > > > six. (Either way, he'll release you.) > > > > If in this case you should kill one to save five, why not in the previous, > > > organs case? If in this case too you have qualms, consider yet another: > > > you're in the cab of a runaway tram and see five people tied to the track > > > ahead. You have the option of sending the tram on to the track forking off > > > to the left, on which only one person is tied. Surely you should send the > > > tram left, killing one to save five. > > > > But then why not kill Bill? > > > > -- > > > Regards, > > > > Pavan- Hide quoted text - > > > - Show quoted text - --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Minds-Eye?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
