A philosophical question for you

You are on vacation in Africa and are walking through the jungle when you stumble across an African warlord. The warlord has 10 people tied to trees and is about to execute them. The warlord gives you an option of simply walking away and he executes all 10 people, or if you shoot one of the people he will let the other 9 go. Do you pull the trigger? Regardless of what you choose, you do not get killed.

Also, can't shoot the warlord because he has some of his bodyguards with him so if you do shoot him you (and the 10 people) also wind up getting shot.

This question was posed to my class last semester and I wonder what people here have to say.

I shoot the warlord and let everyone else go.

These people are not criminals, right?

I would take the gun and take the warlord hostage then demand the prisoners be freed.

lol

ok seriously though, its about your conscience and if you can bear to know YOU killed an innocent person. I think I would save the nine other people though. I mean you do save 9 people. You would still feel terrible knowing you let them all die.

Edit: damn you spjunkies... beat me :mad:

I shoot the warlord and let everyone else go.

These people are not criminals, right?

I should have clarified, you can't shoot the warlord because he has some of his bodyguards with him so if you do shoot him you (and the 10 people) also wind up getting shot.

Reluctantly, I would take one life to save many. And I'd be sick about it.

I'd shoot the oldest of the captives.

I figure that person has lived the longest (and presumably fullest) life to that point.

My conscience hopefully would accept the fact that a life had to be lost for others to be saved. (Isn't war based on precisely the same concept?)

Shoot myself for deciding it would be a good idea to vacation in Africa.

I keep walking, it's none of my business.

I'd shoot one of the innocents in a second. The only hesitation would be a momentary pause to see if there was one I felt deserved it more than any other. I also wouldn't lose a moment of sleep over it.

I keep on walking, I have no idea who these people are tied up, what they are, what th\ey stand for and why they are tied up. I also ask the warlord for some water cuz I'm thirsty.

id shoot the republican lol............

no really..... i would do what H_H said....

Why the heck am I in Africa?

I hate bugs and creepy crawly things.

Being the psychologist, I would want to find out from the warlord what his mama did to make him do these things.

:laugh:

I'd shoot the oldest of the captives.

I figure that person has lived the longest (and presumably fullest) life to that point.

My conscience hopefully would accept the fact that a life had to be lost for others to be saved. (Isn't war based on precisely the same concept?)

My thoughts exactly.

I guess it's time for me to give my answer. I said in class that I couldn't do it because that is not something that I could live with on my conscience.

I'd keep walking, get insanely drunk that evening and hopefully forget the whole ordeal happened.

I wouldn't trust the warlord's promise to begin with, so i would not kill anyone.

Not killing anyone in that scenario.

It depends, if there is a white person in the group being tied up i'd shoot him, if they were all black i'd walk away.. (i'm not going to chance being labeled a racist)

Shoot the oldest or weakest looking and save the rest. :2cents:

There's a question in this question:

Do I get prosecuted for murder if I pull the trigger?

(i'm not going to chance being labeled a racist)

It's not that bad. :paranoid:

:laugh:

Can it be these 10 people?

^ If it's those 10, I'm shooting David Archuleta. Otherwise, no one.

Based on the information given, I would have to say I would probably walk away. I don't know if the 10 has done anything to warrant death. Did they get caught raping and pillaging a village? Or are they innocent of any crimes and the warlord is being evil?

If they are guilty of crimes that warrant killing, then I would not do anything and walk on. If they are innocent of any crimes, then I would do as others have stated and probably take the life of one in order to save the lives of many.

I guess it's time for me to give my answer. I said in class that I couldn't do it because that is not something that I could live with on my conscience.

but if you walk away you're letting TEN people die, that will be on your conscience too.

I'd ask the people if there were any volunteers to die for the other 9 people. Someone may just volunteer their life. I'd kill him. If not, I'd shoot whoever looked shadiest. I'd also ask the people what THEY wanted me to do. They may tell me to go ahead and leave and let them die. If that's what they wanted, I'd do that.