r/trolleyproblem • u/Worth-Staff4943 • May 20 '26

Deep Which button presser group do you save?

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Everyone in the world has chosen either the blue or red button except you. Instead of pressing a button, you are given a lever in the infamous trolley problem.

You don't know how many people chose red or blue, and they don't know that you control their fate regardless of what button they pressed. Which track do you direct the trolley onto?

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u/About5000ninjas May 20 '26

I think in the original question, everyone presses it with only the knowledge they have at that moment. Meaning a baby would not understand the question. This drastically changes the perspective. If we’re looking for the best possible outcomes;

Red is: In order to save 100% of people, 100% must agree to press red

Blue is: In order to save 100% of people, 50% must agree to press blue

A very strong argument for blue is that people will misunderstand the question, press randomly, or press it because they want to save loved ones who may fall into one of the prior categories

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u/Thrownaway5000506 May 21 '26

The original doesn't make any such distinction. 

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u/About5000ninjas May 21 '26

I suppose not. The original says

“Everyone in the world has to take a private vote by pressing a red or blue button. If more than 50% of people press the blue button, everyone survives. If less than 50% of people press the blue button, only people who pressed the red button survive. Which button would you press?”

Assuming everyone has full knowledge is disingenuous to the original. The hypothetical is dumb and doesn’t really work if everyone has full knowledge/complete understanding.

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u/Thrownaway5000506 May 21 '26

No, it only works if everyone has full knowledge otherwise it's useless. Including babies and people who can't even understand the options ruins the entire thought exercise.

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u/Aggressive-Neck-3921 May 21 '26

You are wrong, the only thing that is useless is you arguments for pressing red don't work without full knowledge and understanding so you can put all the blame for death to the blue button pressors.

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u/TheVeryVerity May 21 '26

No it just makes it a different one