Here is how this experiment will work. I am about to present you with a situation. Your job is to then select one of two actions you would take if faced by the situation. You can keep your choice to yourself or post it in a comment. You may not give an explanation, ask questions, or think about your answer for too long. I want your intuitive decision. This first part is purely for you to state your decision. I will ask for the reasoning in a later part.
Here is the situation:
You are the operator of a trolley. Suddenly, your trolley's breaking mechanism fails and you are unable to stop. A little ways down the track there are five people trapped, unable to get out of the way. You have no way to stop them, so their death seems inevitable. However, you DO have the ability to divert your trolley onto a second track to save their lives. There is a catch. One person is trapped on the second trap.* Here are your options:
You can not do anything and let the five people die.
Or you can divert the trolley and kill the one person to save the others' lives.
Let the five die or kill the one?
For the sake of this experiment, go with your intuition. In the actual situation, you would only have seconds to decide anyways.
Don't ask questions.
Don't explain your reasons [yet].
Just answer.
Stand by for Part Two.
*Modified version of Philippa Foot's Trolley Problem
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