Moral Stories

Story 24

You and ten divers are part of an U.N. team who is deactivating anti-ship mines from World War II. One team member has hurt himself and the blood in the water has attracted several sharks. You have an underwater rifle, but only one harpoon and there are many sharks. The bleeding diver is swimming towards the last protective cage and will reach it before you and the others. The sharks, following the blood, are coming too close for you and the other divers to escape.

Question

Do you let the sharks eat the injured diver by detonating the mine next to him with a remote control, so you and the other ten divers can reach the protective cage?

Majority Answer: No

Answer distribution over 25 people:

P(Yes): 0.44 P(No): 0.56

Is Ambiguous: True

Factor

These are the factors and their attributes present in this story.

Beneficiary: Self-beneficial

Causal Role: Means

Evitability: Avoidable

Personal Force: Impersonal