Ethical Dilemmas in Space Rescue

The video presents a moral dilemma where a captain must choose between saving two groups: 30 disadvantaged workers or 20 affluent students. It explores ethical theories like utilitarianism, which suggests maximizing happiness, and Derek Parfit's view of prioritizing the worse off. John Taurek's perspective of treating everyone equally through a coin flip is also discussed. The video highlights the complexity of ethical decision-making and the factors influencing such choices.

What is the main ethical dilemma faced by the captain of the Mallory 7?

• Determining the cause of the explosion

• Choosing between saving two different ships

• Deciding whether to continue the journey

• Selecting a new destination for the cargo

According to utilitarianism, what should guide the captain's decision?

• The number of people in distress

• The potential for the greatest sum of happiness

• The distance to each ship

• The financial cost of the rescue

What is a key challenge in defining happiness according to utilitarianism?

• Determining how to measure it

• Calculating the financial cost

• Choosing the ship with more passengers

• Deciding the distance to each ship

How does the concept of life years influence the decision-making process?

• It suggests saving those with the most life years left

• It focuses on the immediate number of lives saved

• It considers the distance to each ship

• It prioritizes the financial cost of the rescue

Why might saving the students result in more life years saved?

• They are younger with more potential life years

• They are closer to the captain's ship

• They are in a more critical situation

• They have more passengers on board

What does Derek Parfit's philosophy suggest in this scenario?

• Prioritizing those who are worse off

• Saving the ship that is closer

• Flipping a coin to decide

• Choosing the ship with more passengers

Why might the workers on the Telic 12 be considered more deserving of rescue?

• They are younger than the students

• They are closer to the captain's ship

• They are from disadvantaged backgrounds

• They have more life years left

What is John Taurek's argument regarding the decision-making process?

• The ship that is closer should be saved

• Numbers don't count, and a coin flip is fair

• The ship with more passengers should be saved

• The ship with younger passengers should be saved

How does Taurek's approach treat all individuals?

• Equally, by giving each an equal chance of rescue

• Based on their socio-economic status

• According to their age and life expectancy

• By prioritizing those with more life years left

What is a potential criticism of using a coin flip to decide who to rescue?

• It takes too long to execute

• It requires complex calculations

• It is biased towards one group

• It may seem arbitrary and unfair