Absurd Trolley Problems
I'm surprised to see the popular answer to Question 3.<p>> Oh no! A trolley is heading towards 5 people. You can pull the lever to divert it to the other track, but then your life savings will be destroyed. What do you do?<p>Over 70% chose to pull the lever and destroy their life savings.<p>People die of preventable causes in developing countries today. By choosing not to donate your life savings today to help them, you are choosing not to pull the Question 3 lever.<p>According to Givewell, it takes $4500 to save a life in Guinea. So for every $4500 of your savings that you choose not to donate to Guinea, that's one person you are choosing not to pull the lever to save. Have $45,000 in savings? That's 10 people you're choosing not to pull the lever to save.<p>I doubt that over 70% of respondents are regularly donating anywhere close to their life savings.