In his brutal and annoying Harper’s Magazine* piece on euthanasia, Michel Houellebecq refers to it as Gedankenexperiment - otherwise known as thought experiment.
The first academic thought experiment I was made privy to likely represents an experience shared by many. The classic Trolley Problem was presented to me earnestly in a medical ethics course in undergrad. The fascinating instructor was almost certainly a Kantian but always kept us guessing. I later found out he was quite religious as well, but we never discussed that topic, unfortunately.
I won’t go through all the nuances and iterations of the Trolley Problem here, but it is good starting point form which to approach (im)practical ethics, if you will.
I’ve developed four scenarios below which are designed to torture the mind. The responses from confidents I’ve shared these scenarios with have been amusing indeed. One’s response seems to suggest something about them and their approach to problem solving. I’m not getting cute and excluding myself here, either. Contradictions just seem to be a common denominator when initial responses to the scenarios are compared internally. The nature of intuition, I guess.
At some point I’ll expand on the ethical considerations worth thinking about in each case. For now, what would you do?
-d
The Four Amigos
Carl is a father to Matt and Jane. Jane is 15 and works at a local library. The family pet, a 10 year old dog named Charlie has suffered an acute medical emergency. Carl, Matt, and Jane have been very invested in Charlie’s life. The family members at home have decided upon euthanasia given the circumstances. Matt argues that Jane should be informed prior to this happening so that she can grieve the loss and see Charlie before he is put down. Carl argues that Charlie should be put down first and Jane be told after her shift ends, as to protect her from the trauma of the event. Ultimately, he leaves the decision with Matt who must decide whether to stop at his sister’s place of work before the veterinarian’s office. What should Matt do?
John is a businessman who has a friend, David. David’s brother Markus is running for Governor. A week before the election, John has learned that David is engaged in a financial scheme. He knows enough to substantiate the fact that David is breaking several laws and like defrauding many working class investors. John is unsure of his legal liability with respect to his duty to report the crimes. John knows the family well and knows of David’s interactions with the law in the past. He also knows Markus has always kept his nose clean. He is someone who has worked hard and has the potential to change the lives of many. We assume that John will ultimately report the crimes. A week out from the election, what should John do? Is it clearly right or wrong for John to wait until after the election before releasing the information to the public given the likely negative impact on Markus’ candidacy?
Jill is in a relationship with Andrew. They are both in their late 20’s and have been together for four years. The relationship is generally stable and healthy. They are very familiar with each other’s families. Andrew is extremely focused on a professional career and Jill is still training. Lately she has become more distant with Andrew. She questions his commitment and temperament at times but knows he is a good person. She feels unsure of how he would react in a moment where she needs a lot of support. Their relationship has not been tested in that way yet. Unexpectedly, Jill then becomes pregnant. She does not share the news with Andrew and gets an abortion early in the pregnancy. She struggles with the decision enormously but continues on in the relationship despite believing they would likely separate. Over time, they grow closer together. Andrew settles into his job and balances work and life well. He demonstrates his ability to support and protect Jill during a traumatic family event. He’s also newly an uncle, and Jill begins to see his definite promise as a father as well as his growth as a person. They begin to discuss marriage and children as their relationship strengthens, and they both are now very much in favor of this shared goal. Before proceeding, should Jill disclose the abortion to Andrew? If so, when?
Mark is a father of two children, Frank and Megan. Megan is 24 and about to write the medical college admissions test (MCAT) for the third time. Previous admission applications have been plagued by her battles with major depressive disorder. At present, however, she enjoys the best mental health of her life and has tidied up her medical school application, making is seriously competitive. Her drive to the testing center this morning will take 45 minutes and once she enters she won’t be disturbed until the end of the test, 8 hours later. Fifteen minutes into her drive, Mark finds out his wife, and Frank and Megan’s mother, has been killed in a car accident. Mark now knows he has just 30 minutes to decide whether or not to tell his daughter before she writes the exam. What should Mark do?
*I’ve subscribed to Harper’s Magazine in print for two years, largely because of Houellebecq’s brutal and annoying piece. The Tom Hanks piece is to be avoided though, no question.