trolley problem en · NOUN
Etymology
Coined by American philosopher Judith Thomson. The problems usually involve deciding whom to save from an approaching trolley that can be diverted but not stopped.
Meanings
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A type of thought experiment in ethics and psychology, involving ethical dilemmas of whether to sacrifice one person to save a larger number.
By the late ‘90s, trolley problems had fallen out of fashion. Many philosophers questioned the value of the conclusions reached by analyzing a situation so bizarre and specific.
2015 October 9, Lauren Cassani Davis, “Would You Pull the Trolley Switch? Does it Matter?”, in The Atlantic:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| trolley problems | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Relateds
Translations (6)
ja トロッコ問題 (Translations) · es dilema del tranvía (Translations) · is vagnavandamálið (Translations) · cmn 電車難題 /电车难题 (Translations) · el πρόβλημα του τρόλεϊ (Translations) · fr dilemme du tramway (Translations)