Nobody Cares About Philosophy

[Argent Stonecutter]

I hate the autonomous vehicle trolley problem. It's such bullshit.

Most likely in an emergency situation the only viable option is to brake as hard as the vehicle can manage safely.

If the car has the luxury of making the decision because the crash isn't already happening when it detects it, then it was already operating outside safety margins. It should already have been driving more slowly to begin with.

In this case, if there are no safe avenues of egress, it should not have been moving too fast to stop safely on regenerative braking alone.

If that doesn't work, then it couldn't be moving at all, because the whole power train from the wheels to the motor(s) will have to be free-running and it wouldn't have been able to get up to speed in the first place. If every part of the system failed open like that at once with no warning it's almost certainly sabotage. Otherwise the actual responsible agent is the company for programming an unsafe operating regime into the car.

 

[Essence Lumin]

 

[Isabeau]

Variations of the Trolley Problem

It’s a decades-old thought experiment, now with several new versions!

www.newyorker.com

Here‘s one…

THE THREAD
In this variation there is no second track but there is another man standing nearby, between the trolley and the five helpless people. If you shove him onto the tracks, his body will likely stop the trolley. You know nothing about this man except that at this very moment he’s on his phone composing a tweet that begins with the word “thread.”

Also, he’s vaping.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

I asked ChatGPT for some ideas. A couple of the better ones it came up with were

The Vacation Trolley:A trolley is headed towards 5 people who will talk non-stop about their latest trip to Bali. Pull the lever, and it diverts towards one person who insists on showing you 500 photos of their cat's staycation.

and

The Foodie Trolley: One track has five people arguing about whether pineapple goes on pizza. The other track has a single person insisting ketchup is a valid pasta sauce. Whose culinary beliefs survive?

 

[Essence Lumin]

The Foodie Trolley: One track has five people arguing about whether pineapple goes on pizza. The other track has a single person insisting ketchup is a valid pasta sauce. Whose culinary beliefs survive?

I think I tried the ketchup and spaghetti thing exactly once when I was desperate and ketchup was the only tomato based thing in the place. I came to the conclusion that spaghetti with nothing except butter and some spices was much better.

 

[Noodles]

I think I tried the ketchup and spaghetti thing exactly once when I was desperate and ketchup was the only tomato based thing in the place. I came to the conclusion that spaghetti with nothing except butter and some spices was much better.

I barely use red suce on my pasta. I have used just olive oil and parmesean with some garlic and oregano gor a looooong time.

Good stuff.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

 

[Noodles]

The main thing the Trolly Problem has taught me so far is that Trolly businesses are poorly regulated or something because there are broken ass runaway trollies, EVERYWHERE.

 

[Sid]

Is that where the word troll comes from..... trolleys?

 

[Argent Stonecutter]

Other way around. The trolly problem is philosophers trolling people.

 

[Noodles]

The Hydra Trolly Problem

A runaway trolling is heading down the track towards 5 people. You know nothing about these people.

You can run them over, and that's the end, or you can flip a lever and the trolly will hit two additional other trollies, causing them to go out of control in their own version of this same problem.

This loops goes on infinitely, and you will need to continue to flip levers forever, each time spawning more and more iterations of this same loop.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

My long night with Jordan Peterson

A 61-year-old philosopher talking in apocalyptic terms about ‘power-mongering, fear-wielding global utopians’ for three hours? It’s less fun than you’d think

www.thetimes.co.uk

Evernote link

 

[Innula Zenovka]

ChatGPT weighs in, responding to the prompt "Please imagine Jordan Peterson speaking to an audience about the trolly problem "

Imagine Jordan Peterson standing before an attentive audience, his voice resonant and emphatic, gesturing to underscore his points as he tackles the trolley problem:

"Consider this, if you will: a trolley barreling down the tracks, and you're there, by the switch, with the power to alter its course. On one path, five human beings; on the other, one. The question posed is simple: do you do nothing and allow the trolley to take its course, or do you intervene, pulling the lever to divert the trolley onto the path where one person stands alone? It's a classic ethical dilemma, a problem that's used to illustrate the moral decision-making process. But, it's not just a simple puzzle; it's a reflection, a manifestation, of the deeply complex nature of life itself."

Peterson would pause, surveying the room, ensuring the weight of the scenario sinks in.

"In life, you're always by the switch, and choices are always to be made. Some may argue from a utilitarian perspective: maximize well-being, minimize suffering. It seems straightforward — sacrifice one to save five. A net gain for humanity, right? But it's never that simple. You see, it's not just about what is gained or lost in the immediate. There's a bigger picture."

He leans forward slightly, engaging directly with the audience.

"Every action you take, every decision you make, echoes forward in time. You pull that lever, and yes, you save five lives. But the act of pulling that lever, that's something you carry with you. You've actively chosen to end a life, and that's a burden. That's the thing about life: it's not just about making choices — it's about bearing the consequences of those choices."

A moment of silence follows, letting the implication of his words sink in.

"And what if you choose not to act? Some might say that's cowardice. But even inaction is a choice. It's a decision to uphold the natural course of events, to refuse the God-like power to decide who lives and dies. And let's not forget about the rules, the principles that govern our conduct. If we start pulling levers to redirect harm, where do we draw the line? What becomes of personal rights, of justice?"

Peterson's voice would rise in intensity.

"Think about it. The trolley problem isn't just a question of numbers; it's a question of values. It asks us what kind of world we want to live in, what kind of people we aspire to be. It forces us to confront the chaos and responsibility of being. Because that's what life is about: navigating the chaos, making tough choices, and living with the aftermath."

He would then take a step back, allowing the audience to process the gravity of his words.

"So, you're by the switch. You're always by the switch. And the real question is, what will you do with that terrible freedom? That's the essence of the trolley problem. And that, dear friends, is the essence of life."

With that, Peterson would nod solemnly, giving the audience a moment to reflect on the depth and complexity of moral choice and the human condition.

 

[Veritable Quandry]

According to ChatGPT, Gordon Ramsey isn't overly concerned with the dilemma if it's accountants on the track getting run over. (Prompt: Imagine Gordon Ramsey explaining the trolley problem to the owner of a failing restaurant.)

Gordon Ramsay: (standing in a struggling restaurant, appearing perplexed) Right, let me put it to you simply, my friend. Imagine you're not in a restaurant but instead operating a trolley. You've got two tracks ahead, and you can only choose one. It's not about food or profit; it's a real-life situation. Now, pay attention!

Owner: (confused) A trolley, Chef Ramsay? What do you mean?

Gordon Ramsay: (impatient) I mean a trolley! Just like the trolley problem. You're in control, and you have to decide which way it goes. On one track, there's a team of chefs working hard to create exquisite dishes for your customers, ensuring top-notch quality. On the other track, there's a team of cost-cutting experts focused solely on making a profit by compromising on the food's quality.

Owner: (perplexed) So, what should I do with this trolley, Chef?

Gordon Ramsay: (exasperated) You must choose, just like you'd have to choose which track the trolley goes down. Either you prioritize high-quality dishes and let go of profit margins, or you focus on maximizing profit at the expense of the food's quality. There's no middle ground here, it's one or the other.

Owner: (reluctantly) Okay, I choose the track with quality food.

Gordon Ramsay: (nodding) Good choice. Now, make sure you invest in top-notch ingredients, maintain high culinary standards, and provide an exceptional dining experience. If you stick to this track, the reputation and loyalty of your customers will grow, even if it means tighter finances for now.

Owner: (determined) I'll do it, Chef Ramsay. Quality is the way to go.

Gordon Ramsay: (encouraged) That's the spirit! Now, let's get to work and keep that trolley on the track of quality. And remember, there's no room for shortcuts in this kitchen. Quality is your ticket to success!

 

[Argent Stonecutter]

 

[Soen Eber]

Philosophy has always been a bit of a void in my life, so I'm trying to play catchup with a lecture series by Arthur Holmes of Wheaton College and the Philosophize This! podcast. The podcast is a good teasing introduction to each area, and Holmes fills in the main points. Don't know how far I'll go with this, but it's part of the world we live in so I may as well try and understand it.

 

[Soen Eber]

Also: F--- the trolly. This is why we have engineering and safety standards such as fail-over systems which are, unfortunately, written in blood. The *real* trolly problem is socio-politico, and involves not a defective trolly but a defective system of govenance and oversight.

 

[Free]

I just want to know why so many people want to kill so many other people with trolleys? That seems like the real trolley problem to me.

 

[detrius]

My long night with Jordan Peterson

A 61-year-old philosopher talking in apocalyptic terms about ‘power-mongering, fear-wielding global utopians’ for three hours? It’s less fun than you’d think

www.thetimes.co.uk

Evernote link

He's about as much a "philosopher" as a crazy street preacher rambling about the end times.

 

[Veritable Quandry]

Also: F--- the trolly. This is why we have engineering and safety standards such as fail-over systems which are, unfortunately, written in blood. The *real* trolly problem is socio-politico, and involves not a defective trolly but a defective system of govenance and oversight.

The real trolley problem is that I know a fair number of people who would be better off tied to tracks but I can't find one in reasonable driving distance.