Vladimir_Nesov comments on The Trolley Problem: Dodging moral questions - Less Wrong

13 Post author: Desrtopa 05 December 2010 04:58AM

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Comment author: ugquestions 09 December 2010 07:53:26AM 0 points [-]

I was aware of the many possible negative consequences such an action could have ( and the impossiblity of it ever having a chance of happening) however if there was a majority support across a society above 75% would the basic idea of sacrificing a small number of people to a modest lifestyle in order to save a large number of people be something you could support. Would a bloodbath be triggered with such support. I pose the question and think its a meaninful question because it is in a "general" sense a decision societies and civilization as a whole ( and by extension all individuals) are making every day.

I spend $70 a month on entertainment. If I redirect this money I could save 7 people a month from a preventable premature death. We all make these decisions. If the question was a choice between throwing the fat person in front of the trolley of yourself in order to save people which would you prefer.

Also remember it is the "fat person" or wealthy that propels the trolley into these people to varying degrees.

Comment author: Vladimir_Nesov 26 January 2011 12:28:56PM *  3 points [-]

I spend $70 a month on entertainment. If I redirect this money I could save 7 people a month from a preventable premature death.

IIRC, the actual cost of saving a life is about $100-$1000, but certainly not $10.

Comment author: ata 26 January 2011 05:30:13PM *  3 points [-]

Unless you're willing to save expected lives instead of having a high chance of saving currently-existing lives, of course. (In which case (IIRC) the cost of saving around 8 expected lives is $1, by Anna Salamon's estimate.)

Comment author: jkaufman 20 March 2012 09:19:30PM 0 points [-]

How does she estimate $0.13 per expected life saved?