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MENTAL MODEL · M11101

Trolley Problem

Trolley Problem
CultureHigh supportEthics
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

A thought experiment about whether to sacrifice one person to save many, revealing the fundamental conflict between utilitarianism and deontology in moral decision-making.

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The trolley problem is a thought experiment in moral philosophy and moral psychology with many variations, involving hypothetical ethical dilemmas about whether to sacrifice one person to save a larger number of people. The series usually begins with a scenario in which a runaway trolley (tram) or t…

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The trolley problem is a moral philosophy thought experiment: pulling a switch on the track can sacrifice one person to save five, forcing a conflict between utilitarian and deontological ethical frameworks. Proposed by Foot and developed by Thomson.

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Source support: Explicit

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    en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolley_problemZH · Explicit
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Deontological ethics (deontology) is one of the theories of normative ethics. It holds that the highest moral ethics is based on the action itself and is not influenced by external factors. Unlike utilitarianism, which is also a branch of normative ethics, deontology does not consider consequences. It is sometimes called 'duty-based' or 'rule-based' ethics, emphasizing that the objective basis of moral judgment is the 'good will', valuing the motive of action, and holding that one should do good unconditionally out of duty. A representative figure is Kant, whose theory has had a great influence on later deontological ethics.

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