The situation is that there is a runaway trolley barreling down the railway tracks.

Ahead,
on the tracks, there are five people tied up and unable to move. The trolley is headed straight
for them. I was standing some distance off in the train yard, next to the lever. If I will pull this
lever, the trolley will switch to a different set of tracks. However, I noticed that there is one
person on the other set of tracks. Thus, I was given two options: first is to do nothing and allow
the trolley to kill the five people on the main track; and the second option is to pull the lever,
diverting the trolley onto the sidetrack where it will kill one person. As for me, I would rather
pull the lever in order for the trolley to be diverted onto the sidetrack where it will only kill one
person. This is because whether to pull the lever or not, the end is still the same in the sense
that someone will die. Option 1 gives us the idea of losing all the people by not doing anything
for the sake of equal treatment. But even choosing Option 2 would mean losing someone. “We
should act always so as to produce the greatest good for the greatest number”: this is what the
principle of utility is all about. In view of this, the application of the principle of utility is
germane to Option 2. This is because once you’ll pull the lever, it will be diverted to the
sidetrack in which only one person is tied up on the railway. Moreover, choosing Option 2
means that the five people who are tied up will be saved and they could survive the tragedy.
The lives of the majority matter the most. Therefore, killing one person creates a greater
amount of good than killing five people.

However, if I was put in the situation of saving that one person who is a love of mine,
then I would rather save that one person because he or she plays a huge part in my life. In
relation to utilitarianism, the purpose of morality is to make life better by increasing the
amount of good things where pleasure and happiness take place. Saving a loved one is a perfect
choice for me. This is because life is short and thus, saving him or her will be more meaningful
for me. It will give us another chance to live and be with each other. I will feel happy because I
would still feel and see him or her. In this case, the utilitarian reasoning is being applied in the
sense of choosing which action is best for the individual.

In conclusion, all the choices we make are utilitarian for as long as: (1) these give
happiness for the individual; or (2) is chosen to achieve greatest number of good, whatever
means may be used. This decision would lie within an individual or a certain group of people,
which would also depend on their motives and ultimate end goal. As for the utilitarianism,
consequence is undeniably present, whether it produces a bad or good consequence.