The Carriage Dilemma in Halacha
Hello Rabbi,
I remember in the column where I criticized Uri Eran’s article and mentioned the train dilemma, you explained that in your opinion we should not judge the intention and status of the person about whom the dilemma is asked, but rather we should judge the act itself. You wrote that in your opinion the result is what is important and it is what determines the act itself – I also believe that.
On Saturday, I happened to come across an issue in the Sanhedrin about whether a person should be killed or not. If I understood the course of the issue correctly, it was a ruling that a person should be killed and not commit even the slightest offense.
I wanted to ask how these two get along? In fact, what is the opinion of the Halacha on the trolley dilemma, and in general, to understand why this is its position?
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I don't understand why the poskim would not want to move the train, it seems very unlikely to me in practice.
If I assume that they base themselves (generally) on "thou shalt not murder" – I assume on the other hand that the choice not to change the train route is also murder or you shall not stand for the blood of your neighbor. I don't understand the meanings of these halakhic definitions, so these are just unfounded speculations.
They don't see failure as an act of murder. It's just a failure to save.
Rabbi Michi, in your opinion, in the case where there is a relative or a father and mother in the group who would be harmed if the wagon was not tilted, would you change the decision in favor of tilting it?
I don't think that should change.
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