Hello, my name is

Question #1
In regard to question number 1, if I were in that situation, I would pull the lever because I think
in situations of which people’s lives are at stake, choosing the option that saves the most lives is
the ethically correct choice to make.
One concept that can be used to justify this decision falls under the Consequences-Based
Approach of Utilitarianism that emphasizes the ethical course of action is the one that provides
the greatest good for the greatest number of people and has the least harmful consequences for
the majority of those involved.
Another concept that helps to justify my stance is Original Position under the contract-based
approach, in which everyone negotiates from behind a Veil of Ignorance, which blinds people to
all facts about themselves. Under this concept the individual that the lever is switched to would
understand my justification because if he/she is ignorant of their own ultimate position in
society, they would develop ethical rules that treat all fairly, thus proving that the right decision
is to save the most possible.

Question #2
In regard to question number 2, if I were in that situation, I would push the fat man off the bridge
to stop the runaway train for the same reason I would pull the lever and change the tracks in
question number 1. When there is a situation in which people’s lives are at stake, I would choose
to save the greater amount of people.
Two concepts that can be used to justify this decision are the same two as previously stated in
question number 1 – the Consequences-Based Approach of Utilitarianism and operating from
behind a Veil of Ignorance. By using these two concepts the greatest good for the greatest
number of people and the least harmful consequences occur.
A third concept that can be used is the Virtue Ethics School, in which, I would say integrity is
the most important virtue. By being honest and having strong moral principles, I would have to
push the fat man off the bridge in an attempt to save the five other people on the tracks.
Question #3
In regard to question #3, if I were the surgeon, I would not sacrifice the patient to save the lives
of the five others. On one hand, this situation is exactly the same as scenarios 1 and 2 because
you are having to choose between doing the most good for the most people or not doing it for
other reasons. However, on the other hand, taking in mind that the patient came to you as a client
asking for your services, it is not my decision to make high level ethical decisions because, like
previously stated, this is someone coming to you for help, compared to pulling a lever to save 1
vs 5 people.
I recognize that this decision DOES go against my decisions in scenarios 1 and 2 and doesn’t do
the greatest good for the greater amount of people, but there is something in my brain that
switches when picturing physically seeing the 1v5 in the trolley situation compared to JUST
knowing that I could potentially save 5 others instead in another part of the hospital as well