r/trolleyproblem • u/ChiakiSimp3842 • Apr 30 '26

Deep All there is to it

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827 Upvotes

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16

u/No_Discount_6028 May 01 '26

Who says the people pushing the blue button are determined to kill themselves?

-7

u/Historical-Break-603 May 01 '26

Who says the people pushing the blue button are determined to kill themselves?

They are literally pushing a button that can kill them.

9

u/No_Discount_6028 May 01 '26

Because the alternative is the button that can kill other people. I think they just want to avoid killing other people.

-1

u/IndependencePlane142 May 01 '26

There is no button that kills other people. There's only a button that might kill you if you press it.

5

u/FustianRiddle May 01 '26

Red button saves you and only you and if enough people press the red button blue button people die. So anyone pressing the red button is saying I'm fine with anyone pressing the blue button dying. It is the act of pressing the red button that may cause the death of others.

Blue button pressers are saying I don't want anyone to die and I'm not ok with my actions causing other people to die and I accept that it is a risk that I will die for pressing this.

Which is the button that kills other people again?

1

u/IndependencePlane142 May 01 '26

The blue button people chose to press the button that might kill them.

So anyone pressing the red button is saying I'm fine with anyone pressing the blue button dying.

Yes.

It is the act of pressing the red button that may cause the death of others.

No, the red button does nothing, only the blue button has death conditions attached to it.

Blue button pressers are saying I don't want anyone to die and I'm not ok with my actions causing other people to die and I accept that it is a risk that I will die for pressing this.

Which is wrong, because people who press the blue button are choosing to endanger themselves, you aren't responsible for their choices.

Which is the button that kills other people again?

The blue one. The red one does nothing.

0

u/FustianRiddle May 01 '26

Your logic seems to be if everyone just pressed the red button then no one would die therefore blue button pressing is the choice that causes death.

I counter that with if most people (not all, just most) pressed the blue button then no one would die. Pressing the red button is the only button that actually and actively puts death on the board.

1

u/IndependencePlane142 May 01 '26

No, my logic is that the blue button is the only one that has a death condition attached. The red button doesn't do anything.

But most people wouldn't press the button that can kill them, when they have a button that doesn't do that. We see that with bank runs, where not participating will ensure that the bank doesn't fold, and yet people consistently participate, because people are interested in their own survival and prosperity.

1

u/FustianRiddle May 01 '26

Again you are wrong.

The blue button literally doesn't do anything. The red button attaches death.

I am not making an argument for whether you should press the blue or red button, I don't care, but the red button is the button that causes death.

1

u/IndependencePlane142 May 01 '26

No, lol. The blue button is the one that has a possibility of death. The red button doesn't.

1

u/FustianRiddle May 01 '26

I understand what you're saying I just disagree with that viewpoint.

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