Student Handouts: The Lifeboat Ethical Dilemmas

Teaching Background

Students discuss an ethical dilemma that is readily comprehensible – who to save in a lifeboat. The various ethical perspectives can be derived in students’ own words. Alternatively, each group can assume one perspective and analyze their choices through that lens.
Student Handouts: Ethical Group Discussion – The Lifeboat

Discussions about the lifeboat are influenced strongly by how the question is posed. Be sure to allow room for solutions that maximize fairness (i.e. drawing straws) by asking students to focus on how they are making their decision. Students often default to solutions that are outcome-based. It is useful to be able to show that there are other approaches that can be applied. Although the lifeboat
Refer to the ‘Ethics as a Discipline’ section of the Primer for more information about each perspective. Moral Rules Groups may choose a rule such as “every life counts” in which case a certain set of people get chosen according to these rules, for example, by lottery. Virtues Based Groups may hold “achievement” or “justice” as their priority, in which case a certain set of people gets chosen according to who demonstrates the greatest possession of these virtues. In the interest of time, have the group choose one virtue as their priority. Outcomes Based Groups may weigh how much benefit saving each person has on the person, other people, or society, in which case the most “beneficially effective” people get chosen. Principles Based Groups may try to weigh and balance all four central principles, in which case a certain set of people gets chosen according to the group consensus on this process. This group tends to have the most difficulty in deciding on the survivors (especially due to the time limitations). Care Based Groups may decide to serve the typically underserved or honor the most equitable relationships, in which case a certain group get chosen according to these criteria. Some of our teachers recommend doing the lifeboat twice – once without mention of perspectives, and a second time by assigning students to an ethical perspective, or asking them to compare all
As you run down the crowded corridor, an elderly woman suddenly slips in front of you and falls to the ground with a cry. Do you stop to help, if you know you will miss your flight because of it?

The ‘Trolley’

Trolley Scenario 1 A trolley is running out of control down a track. In its path are 5 people who have been tied to the track by a mad philosopher. Fortunately, you can flip a switch which will lead the trolley down a different track. Unfortunately, there is a single person tied to that track. Should you flip the switch? Why?

Trolley Scenario 2 As before, a trolley is hurtling down a track towards five people. You are on a bridge under which it will pass, and you can stop it by dropping a heavy weight in front of it. As it happens, there is a man next to you - your only way to stop the trolley is to push him over the bridge and onto the track, killing him to save five. Should you proceed? Why? How is this case different from the