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<blockquote data-quote="delericho" data-source="post: 3252710" data-attributes="member: 22424">Assuming that on either track the train will then slow to a halt without further damage, then flip the switch. Numbers wins out.Still, it's an Evil action.It's absurd to think that one man, no matter how fat, is heavy enough to stop a runaway train moving at any sort of speed, especially if it's fast enough to deny you time for a warning. It's particularly absurd to think that he's not so fat that you can move him, yet fat enough to stop the train, and incidentally, that you're not able to sacrifice yourself to apply that same strength to stopping the train.Even if all of the above doesn't apply, it's extremely unlikely I could do the calculation quickly enough to be sure that the death of the fat man would definately be enough to stop the train, and yet couldn't warn the other men. Without that certainty, there can be no justification for pushing the fat man, since you might well just be adding 1 to the death toll.However, if I were somehow certain of all the cases (certain, not merely sure) then yes, push the fat man. Numbers wins out. But it's still an Evil action.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="delericho, post: 3252710, member: 22424"] Assuming that on either track the train will then slow to a halt without further damage, then flip the switch. Numbers wins out. Still, it's an Evil action. It's absurd to think that one man, no matter how fat, is heavy enough to stop a runaway train moving at any sort of speed, especially if it's fast enough to deny you time for a warning. It's particularly absurd to think that he's not so fat that you can move him, yet fat enough to stop the train, and incidentally, that you're not able to sacrifice yourself to apply that same strength to stopping the train. Even if all of the above doesn't apply, it's extremely unlikely I could do the calculation quickly enough to be sure that the death of the fat man would definately be enough to stop the train, and yet couldn't warn the other men. Without that certainty, there can be no justification for pushing the fat man, since you might well just be adding 1 to the death toll. However, if I were somehow certain of all the cases (certain, not merely sure) then yes, push the fat man. Numbers wins out. But it's still an Evil action. [/QUOTE]

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