The trolley problem is a basic philosophical thought experiment on the nature of morality. Are we responsible for circumstances beyond our control, and do we take ownership of the consequences if we intercede? Is inaction a decision itself? Does the moral relativism of reducing harm absolve us of the results borne of our choices?
Derailing is a theoretical option, but raises additional concerns. You put the passengers at risk to hopefully save people on the tracks, and you destroy the trolley which is ostensibly going somewhere for a reason. What if there is a pregnant woman in labor on the trolley, and she's on her way to the hospital? What if the detailed trolley still crushes the people on the track? Was your decision to intervene a moral one?
The trolley problem is a basic philosophical thought experiment on the nature of morality. Are we responsible for circumstances beyond our control, and do we take ownership of the consequences if we intercede?
Well, yes, that too. But also there is part of paper, where different additional information is provided. So paper that introduced it also in a way ridicules trolley problem. You never has complete information, and no solution is perfect in any morality.
you destroy the trolley which is ostensibly going somewhere for a reason.
I've never heard about trolley's body destruction during derailment. And Uraltransmash trolley derail a lot.
What if the detailed trolley still crushes the people on the track? Was your decision to intervene a moral one?
Back to incomplete information. Or what if trolley doesn't have enough velocity to kill anyone?