Consequentialism And The Trolley Problem

Major ethical dilemmas require sound principles of moral understanding in order to act accordingly. Two major views on moral stance are the ethical principles of consequentialism and the commonly contrasted non-consequentialist view. This paper will try to present a fictional ethical dilemma which stresses these two major views and exposes the strengths and weaknesses of both views.
The “Trolley Problem” is a short video published by BBCradiofour which depicts an ethical dilemma with three possible outcomes (BBCradiofour). In the video, a runaway trolley is barreling down a track with five unaware workers facing impending doom. The viewer is then presented with the first two of the ethical options which are to actuate a lever to change the direction of the trolly or to let the trolley run over the five workers. These two options are specifically the consequentialist view and the non-consequentialist view. The third option is a hybrid or a middle ground between the two
These two options would be to use the lever or to push the individual as these two options produce the best possible outcome by mitigating the most casualties. A staunch believer in utilitarianism would discern no difference between the two outcomes because the results are the same. That is, the five worker’s lives are sparred because of the sacrifice of a single individual which maximizes benefit. Not taking in consideration the method of how the five lives will be saved a consequentialist would act to produce the most favorable results. This is the true strength to utilitarian views, the ability to act on reasoning and value human life above the indecency of the act. The ultimate weakness to the utilitarian view would be the second option to push the person from the bridge. This action directly requires the individual to commit an act of murder to save the workers