Imagine a train is rushing toward five innocent people, and is about to kill them. But you can flip a switch, thus diverting the train to another track and thereby saving the five. However, there is one person on that second track. But that is only one person....compared with five.

This is the infamous Trolley Problem--a thought experiment often used to challenge utilitarian theory.

1. Clearly, the utilitarian would flip the switch. Do you agree with this action? Why or why not?

3. Let us say there was no switch, and no alternative track for the out-of-control train. The train is about to crash into the five people, thus killing them. But you are standing on the train platform, and right in front of you, slightly leaning forward to see what is happening, is a very big and heavy man. If you push this man on the track, his body will stop the train--thereby saving the five. But this man will then die. Would you push the big man on the track? Why or why not?