September 3, 2009 · Filed under Epistemology, Layer 7: Links, Miscellaneous, Moral · Tagged brain, brain in a vat, brains, decision making, decisions, donate organs, donated hearts, Epistemology, heart, heart donation, human mind, left, leftie, links, mind, moral decision, moral quandry, morality, morals, ophans, organ donation, philosophical, philosophizing, philosophy, philosophy links, philosophy of mind, railman, railmen, railroad, railroad tracks, railroad worker, right, right or left, tracks, train, trolley, utilitarian, utilitarianism
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Michael F. Patton Jr. of Syracuse University presents a quandry: what does a brain-in-a-vat do when it’s controlling a runaway train and has to decide between killing two different railmen (all utilitarian considerations included)? Definitely will put a smile on your face. Link.
(via a discussion board post on the Philosophers + Philosophy Facebook application)
