Moral Stories
Story 18
You and five other people are trapped in a burning building. There is only one emergency exit through which all of you could escape, but it is blocked by burning debris. Another injured person is about to crawl through a hole at the bottom of the exit door. You and the five people behind you do not have time to do the same.
Question
Do you put out the fire by activating the emergency system, which will leave the injured without air, so you and the five other people can escape?
Majority Answer: Yes
Answer distribution over 25 people:
Is Ambiguous: False
Factor
These are the factors and their attributes present in this story.
Beneficiary: Self-beneficial
Causal Role: Side Effect
Evitability: Avoidable
Personal Force: Impersonal