 - 1. "Would You Kill The Fat Man?" by David Edmonds is a thought-provoking exploration of ethical dilemmas through the lens of moral philosophy and decision-making. The book delves into the famous 'trolley problem,' which posits a scenario in which a person must choose between pulling a lever to divert a runaway trolley onto a track where it will kill one person instead of allowing it to continue on its path to kill five others. Edmonds expands this moral quandary by introducing the 'fat man' variant, where the reader must consider whether it's justifiable to push an overweight individual off a bridge to stop the trolley and save the lives of several people. Through engaging narratives and insightful discussions, Edmonds examines various ethical theories such as utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics, illustrating how different philosophical perspectives can lead to vastly different conclusions about the same moral question. The book challenges readers to reflect on their own moral intuitions and the implications of their choices, making it not only a philosophical inquiry but also a personal examination of values and ethics in the face of life-and-death situations.
The 'trolley problem' was originally developed by which philosopher?
A) Philippa Foot
B) Peter Singer
C) Judith Jarvis Thomson
D) Immanuel Kant
- 2. What is the 'fat man' version of the trolley problem?
A) Asking an obese person to move faster
B) Choosing which overweight person to save
C) Redistributing food from the wealthy
D) Pushing a large person off a bridge to stop the trolley
- 3. According to Edmonds, what do most people choose in the switch scenario?
A) Do nothing and let five die
B) Try to warn everyone
C) Sacrifice themselves instead
D) Pull the switch to save five
- 4. How do most people respond to the fat man scenario?
A) Look for an alternative solution
B) Ask the fat man to jump
C) Push the fat man without hesitation
D) Refuse to push the fat man
- 5. The 'loop' variant involves what modification?
A) The single person is on the track loop
B) The tracks form a circle
C) There are multiple fat men
D) The trolley can fly
- 6. What does 'trolleyology' refer to in the book?
A) A new branch of mathematics
B) The psychology of weight loss
C) The study of trolley problems
D) The history of public transportation
- 7. How do brain scans relate to trolley problems?
A) Emotional areas are always dominant
B) Rational areas are never involved
C) Different brain areas activate for different scenarios
D) All moral decisions use the same brain region
- 8. The 'transplant' problem analogy involves what?
A) Killing one patient to save five with organs
B) Vaccination ethics
C) Choosing which patient gets treatment
D) Genetic engineering decisions
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