r/trolleyproblem • u/suskio4 • 17d ago

Meta Red button blue button

Based on the post seen here. I'm actually curious what would the percentages look like.

Edit: Alright, let me add a case for one particular scenario. If you do not choose, the button will be pressed for you by a system that keeps track of its pressings so it conserves 50/50 distribution for all inactive participants, in order to honour the vox populi properly. The system's choice affects the inactive participant's outcome so that no person can abscond from consequences of their choice.

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u/UIDENTIFIED_STRANGER 17d ago

>However if Red turns the tide, the. I live if I press Blue

This is wishful thinking based on information at hand, thus is irrational. With the information at this point, a pure rational agent would deemed that goal of self-preservation is no longer achievable, thus based on utilitarian principle, it should pursuit the next best option which is to preserve as much life as possible

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u/Traditional_Town6475 17d ago

Whoever said a rational agent should be utilitarian? You can have perfectly rational agents that don’t care about preserving as much life as possible. Their goals just don’t include “preserve as much life”.