Trolley Problem trivia

Trolley Problem Mini Quiz

Test your knowledge with these top questions!

Question 1

The comedy series The Good Place features a demon character who resolves the Trolley Problem by doing what?

The demon Michael solves the dilemma by striking the five workers on the main track while dangling a blade out the window to hit the single person on the alternate path.

Question 2

Philosophers use the classic Trolley Problem thought experiment to contrast active harm with what alternative?

Philippa Foot introduced this dilemma in 1967 to explore moral distinctions, weighing the ethics of actively killing one person versus passively letting five die.

Question 3

The "Fat Man" variant complicates the original Trolley Problem by forcing the participant to take what action?

Introduced by Judith Jarvis Thomson, this variant reveals human bias; people are far less willing to use direct physical force than to simply pull a lever.

Question 4

Modern engineers apply the ethical dilemmas of the Trolley Problem to program what emerging technology?

Programmers must decide if a self-driving car facing an unavoidable crash should prioritize protecting its passengers or swerve to minimize overall casualties.

Question 5

The famous thought experiment, the Trolley Problem, tests what ethical conflict?

This experiment highlights the tension between deontological ethics, which focuses on rules, and utilitarianism, which focuses on results.

Question 6

The "fat man" variant of the Trolley Problem forces the participant to do what?

While most people pull a lever to save five lives, many refuse to push a person because it involves direct physical contact and active harm.

Question 7

Self-driving car programmers use the Trolley Problem to help vehicles handle what events?

Programmers must decide if an autonomous vehicle should prioritize the safety of its passengers or minimize the total number of casualties.

Question 8

Utilitarianism, a common Trolley Problem framework, dictates pulling the lever to do what?

Utilitarianism is based on the principle of the "greatest good for the greatest number," treating every life as having equal mathematical value.