Deciding moral obligations is tricky. The question of whether or not Batman should kill the Joker is one of many modern versions of an age-old philosophical problem. Philosopher Philippa Foot best characterizes this classic, moral dilemma, a choice between what is right versus what produces good results, in her formulation of the Trolley Problem. For Kant, the concept of the categorical imperative is a moral obligation to guide us toward what we ought to do, regardless the circumstances. Kant has us test our actions by asking of ourselves: “What if everyone did it?”
Discussion Question
Prepare for this discussion by completing your readings and viewings. Then respond to the following:
Do you think Batman should kill the Joker? Should the controller switch the trolley to another track? Are these questions one and the same? Reflecting on your own life, describe a real-life scenario where you had to make an ethical decision, choosing between deontological and teleological options.
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