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Activity:
Question posted: 02 11 2011 06:38:40 +0000,
21 answers, 867 views, last activity
03 01 2011 11:52:48 +0000
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A group of children were playing near two railway tracks, one still in use while the other disused. Only one child played on the disused track, the rest on the operational track.
The train is coming, and you are just beside the track interchange. You can make the train change its course to the disused track and save most of the kids. However, that would also mean the lone child playing by the disused track would be sacrificed. Or would you rather let the train go its way?
WHAT DECISION WOULD YOU HAVE MADE?????????????
Most people might choose to divert the course of the train, and sacrifice only one child. You might think the same way, I guess. Exactly, to save most of the children at the expense of only one child was rational decision most people would make, morally and emotionally. But, have you ever thought that the child choosing to play on the disused track had in fact made the right decision to play at a safe place?
Nevertheless, he had to be sacrificed because of his ignorant friends who chose to play where the danger was. This kind of dilemma happens around us everyday. In the office, community, in politics and especially in a democratic society, the minority is often sacrificed for the interest of the majority, no matter how foolish or ignorant the majority are, and how farsighted and knowledgeable the minority are. The child who chose not to play with the rest on the operational track was sidelined. And in the case he was sacrificed, no one would shed a tear for him.
The great critic Leo Velski Julian who told the story said he would not try to change the course of the train because he believed that the kids playing on the operational track should have known very well that track was still in use, and that they should have run away if they heard the train's sirens.. If the train was diverted, that lone child would definitely die because he never thought the train could come over to that track! Moreover, that track was not in use probably because it was not safe. If the train was diverted to the track, we could put the lives of all passengers on board at stake! And in your attempt to save a few kids by sacrificing one child, you might end up sacrificing hundreds of people to save these few kids.
While we are all aware that life is full of tough decisions that need to be made, we may not realize that hasty decisions may not always be the right one.
'Remember that what's right isn't always popular... and what's popular isn't always right.'
Everybody makes mistakes; that's why they put erasers on pencils.....
Good one. An eye-opener. Sound logic. Philosophical too. Thanks Ms WW for reminding.
Excellent analogy - but think of it this way (might help):
The many children playing on the track in use knew that it was active and were on the lookout for approaching trains from either direction so easily warned each other and kept out of harm's way. the single child playing on the disused track was blissfully oblivious to the sarrounding since he knew there was nothing to look out for!!!!
Situational awareness and heightened perception to danger can mostly avert any catastrophe
Thanks Joydeep. Wonderful piece !
Great. Congratulations for the post. One extra thought though...We need not think that the train is likely to run over the majority. We have a driver whose job is to keep a watch and stop the train. No time is end of road. I strongly believe in this. Also, believe in professionals. In this case, the driver is the expert and professional
Thank you so so much :)
Dear Mr. Murthy, You have come out with a good point. You have to think a lot before making decisions especially on the effect of your decision on the overall objective, your peers and team. Further we need to think about whether the decision does some value addition to the whole system.
In the above example, if a person rightly thinks that the track on which one kid is playing is a nonoperative one and the other kids who are playing on the active track might know about the risk associated, he'll not change the system. Also another person who does not care about the system also does the same thing!!
Situations like this usualy don't arise in real life situations I believe, since decisions sciences deal basicaly with 1) decisions of certainity 2) decisions under uncertainity. A country and its processes are designed for citizens to make 1)rational choices providing apriori rational outcomes which is called 'near foreseeability' of outcomes.
There exists decision making tools canned and ready to use for all situaitons of certainity and for uncertainity one uses probability theory to generate as much certainity, equity and fairnes so that rational outcomes are expected. Game theory and Decisions sciences with Operations research are certain decisons subjects one can choose from also may be probability theory and stochastic process.
The case presented is hypothetical to the extent that all the players are assumed to be rational, the chils playing rationalises that the train won't pass through his chosen track while the rest rationalises that when the driver blows the whistle they can clear the track.
There is a philosophical root too for this type of decisions, while the question arises whether the players are choosing 1)extreme pleasure or 2) fear of negative outcomes tantamount to 'sublime'. The former players tend to be neurotic analysis of which is purely in the relm of psychology while the latter can be analysed through Decision sciences and psychology.
Yes everybody makes mistakes. But one should learn from his/her mistakes & should not repeat the same mistake. Thanks Kriti.
Good one! Thank you Kirti.
Although there wasn't a decision left to be made!
Very good story it is. thank you for posting. But decision cannot be taken in this case, as we have thought of the result also.
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