Suppose you are the driver of a trolley. The trolley rounds a bend, and there come into view ahead five track workmen, who have been repairing the track. The track goes through a bit of a valley at that point, and the sides are steep, so you must stop the trolley if you are to avoid running the five men down. You step on the brakes, but alas they dont work. Now you suddenly see a spur of track leading off to the right. You can turn (throw a switch/push a button) the trolley onto it, and thus save the five men on the straight track ahead. Unfortunately, there is one track workman on that spur of track. He can no more get off the truck in time than the five can, so you will kill him if turn the trolley onto him.

Is it morally permissible for you to turn the trolley?

What would you do?

How would you evaluate this experiment and its consequences from the ethical egoism point of view?