The trolley problem conflates too independent issues in a very artificial set of circumstances.
Whether we are willing or required to make a utilitarian moral judgment and whether we have the right to do so.
In a real life trolley problem on the battlefield or in the hospital the commanding officer or doctor has been invested by society with his/her position and is expected to do hypothetically the best thing for his patients/soldiers. He has both the power and the right. I'm aware the military situation is a LOT murkier but lets not over complicate.
It seems to me that many are conflicted over their right to take power over other peoples lives and the expected benefit. Note how most feel that you are required to switch the trolley when nobody would be harmed on the other track. Most feel it unacceptable to take responsibility for choosing which party to die in a one to one switch but find sacrificing one for 5 at least acceptable as the benefit mounts it becomes harder to be squeamish about taking power over others.
Maybe if they analyses more realistic scenarios it might be somewhat clearer.
Whether we are willing or required to make a utilitarian moral judgment and whether we have the right to do so.
In a real life trolley problem on the battlefield or in the hospital the commanding officer or doctor has been invested by society with his/her position and is expected to do hypothetically the best thing for his patients/soldiers. He has both the power and the right. I'm aware the military situation is a LOT murkier but lets not over complicate.
It seems to me that many are conflicted over their right to take power over other peoples lives and the expected benefit. Note how most feel that you are required to switch the trolley when nobody would be harmed on the other track. Most feel it unacceptable to take responsibility for choosing which party to die in a one to one switch but find sacrificing one for 5 at least acceptable as the benefit mounts it becomes harder to be squeamish about taking power over others.
Maybe if they analyses more realistic scenarios it might be somewhat clearer.