The Trolley Problem, or Would You Throw the Fat Guy Off the Bridge: A Philosophical Conundrum

(Hardback)

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A trolley is careering out of control. Up ahead are five workers; on a spur to the right stands a lone individual. You, a bystander, happen to be standing next to a switch that could divert the trolley, which would save the five, but sacrifice the onedo you pull it Or say youre watching from an overpass. The only way to save the workers is to drop a heavy object in the trolleys path. And youre standing next to a really fat man.This ethical conundrumbased on British philosopher Philippa Foots 1967 thought experimenthas inspired decades of lively argument around the world. Now Thomas Cathcart, coauthor of the New York Times bestseller Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar, brings his sharp intelligence, quirky humor, and gift for popularizing serious ideas to the trolley problem. Framing the issue as a possible crime that is to be tried in the Court of Public Opinion, Cathcart explores philosophy and ethics, intuition and logic. Along the way he makes connections to the Utilitarianism of Jeremy Bentham, Kants limits of reason, St. Thomas Aquinass fascinating Principle of Double Effect, and more.Read with an open mind, this provocative book will challenge your deepest held notions of right and wrong. Would you divert the trolley Kill one to save five Would you throw the fat man off the bridge

Reviews

"Jaunty, lucid and concise."

--Sarah Bakewell, The New York Times Book Review

"Thomas Cathcart's charming approach in The Trolley Problem is to dramatize the dilemma by presenting... a trial in the court of public opinion, complete with arguments from lawyers on both sides as well as a psychologist, a professor, a bishop, listeners to a radio call-in show and so forth..."
--The Wall Street Journal

"The extremely engaging philosopher Thomas Cathcart... explores ethical conundrums in a refreshingly innovative and humorous manner."
--The New Idealist

Author Bio

Thomas Cathcart graduated from Harvard with a degree in philosophy, studied theology at the University of Chicago, and embarked on a checkered career (his words) from college teaching to hospice management until, at the age of 67, he started his writing life by coauthoring Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar with Daniel Klein. Mr. Cathcart and his wife live in New York City.