The Classic Dilemma

A runaway trolley is heading toward five people tied to the tracks. You stand next to a lever that can divert it to a side track where only one person is tied. Pull the lever and one dies. Do nothing and five die. Philosopher Philippa Foot introduced this scenario in 1967 to expose how moral reasoning actually works.

The large majority of people say they would pull the lever. The math seems obvious — one death is better than five. This is utilitarian reasoning: the right action produces the greatest good for the greatest number. So far, most people are comfortable utilitarians.