Moral Stories
Story 20
Enemy soldiers have taken over your village and will kill all civilians above the age of two. You and ten neighbors are hiding in two rooms of the cellar of a large house. You can hear the voices of soldiers who have come to search the house for valuables. Your baby begins to cry loudly. The crying will attract the attention of the soldiers, who will spare your baby's life, but will kill you and the other refugees in both rooms.
Question
Do you cushion the crying by activating the noisy boiler which will asphyxiate the baby, so they won't find you and the ten neighbors?
Majority Answer: No
Answer distribution over 25 people:
Is Ambiguous: True
Factor
These are the factors and their attributes present in this story.
Beneficiary: Self-beneficial
Causal Role: Side Effect
Evitability: Avoidable
Personal Force: Impersonal