What ethical dilemma is central to the trolley problem?

• A. Choosing between obedience and rebellion
• B. Deciding how to distribute wealth fairly
• C. Balancing the value of one life against multiple lives
• D. Determining the moral authority of laws

Answer: (C)

The central ethical dilemma of the trolley problem revolves around the question of how to balance the value of one life against multiple lives. The trolley problem presents a scenario where a person must choose between two tragic outcomes: allowing a trolley to continue on its current path, which will result in the death of several people, or pulling a lever to redirect the trolley, thereby saving those individuals but leading to the death of one person on the new path.

This situation forces individuals to confront the moral implications of their decisions, particularly the value they place on human lives. It engages with utilitarian principles, which prioritize the greatest good for the greatest number, juxtaposed against deontological ethics, which might stress the importance of not directly taking an action that results in someone’s death, regardless of the outcome.

Therefore, option C precisely encapsulates the core of the trolley problem by highlighting the moral calculus involved in making a life-and-death decision when faced with conflicting interests.