Probabilities in Tragic Choices
Utilitas, 2008
14 Pages Posted: 21 Jan 2015
Date Written: January 1, 2008
Abstract
In this paper I explore a kind of tragic choice that has not received due attention, one in which you have to save only one of two persons but the probability of saving is not equal (and all other things are equal). Different proposals are assessed, taking as models proposals for a much more discussed tragic choice situation: saving different numbers of persons. I hold that cases where (only) numbers are different are structurally similar to cases where (only) probabilities are different. After a brief defense of this claim, I conclude that some version of consequentialism seems more promising at offering a plausible solution to the probability case.
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