The idea
of freedom is fundamental to the idea of ethics, but it is also controversial. Ethically,
individuals have to be conscious and free to make their own decisions. If they are not free in
their decision-making, then the ethical value of their decision is tainted. Imagine the infamous
trolley problem, where you have control over a switch that changes the tracks a trolley is
traveling upon. On one track lies an incapacitated man; on another track, which the trolley is
currently on, lie five individuals. You have the choice to switch between the tracks, choosing
to kill one person with action or five people with inaction.
At the root of
this question is an issue: there is little freedom. The freedom to choose what to do is
compromised because you will have to kill one set of individuals, regardless of your choice. Can
it be considered unethical in that situation to willingly kill one person if your only other
choice was to kill five? In terms of absolute truth, you have still caused...
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