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KMID : 1172020230240010051
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Journal of Korean Bioethics Association
2023 Volume.24 No. 1 p.51 ~ p.66
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A critical examination of the understanding of the trolley problem
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Kang Cheol
Kim Jun-Hewk
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Abstract
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Reducing the harm that may occur is a fundamental norm that, like John Stuart Mill's harm principle, aims to sustain a stable coexistence in society. It is also part of our natural duties in terms of what we reasonably expect from each other as rational members of society. However, the conditions under which seemingly obvious demands for harm reduction are justified remain highly controversial. This is primarily due to the inherent disagreement regarding which approaches are legitimate in minimizing harm. The so-called Trolley Problem serves to effectively discuss such issues. Trolley cases refer to moral dilemmas that explore when sacrificing a few individuals to save the majority can be justified. It allows for a detailed examination of moral distinctions involving action types such as "killing" and "letting die," motivational states such as "intent" and "foreseen," and outcome states such as "the majority" and "the minority." The principles that restrict demands for harm reduction are known as the Doctrine of Doing and Allowing and the Doctrine of Double Effect, which form the basis of our deontological lives and ways of thinking. The authors' central argument focuses on how the Trolley Problem should be understood normatively, rather than examining how it is understood on a factual level by academia or the general public. To achieve this, the study aims to clarify what the Trolley Problem is attempting to test. It discusses the problems associated with the illustrations of Trolley Problem scenarios found in various books and on the internet. Efforts will be made to ensure maximum structural homogeneity among the cases for fair comparison and examination. Furthermore, the study intends to discuss how the key terms of the Trolley Problem, namely "killing" and "letting die," should be understood, including exploring the semantic differences between "killing" and "죽임" in English and Korean.
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KEYWORD
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The Trolley Problem, structural isomorphism, killing and letting die, intending and foreseeing, reducing harm, the Doctrine of Double Effect, the Doctrine of Doing and Allowing
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