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    Carmelics

    A reasoning platform. Break down any belief into clear reasons, explore both sides, and weigh the evidence honestly.

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    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
    Made withinDC&Austin
    Statements
    321,452
    Perspectives
    108,905
    Topics
    42
    Home/Original/inverse
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    Inverse View

    It is not the case that The lifeguard ought to save the five swimmers rather than the one, because saving more lives produces a better outcome when all lives are equally valued.

    ?Set your confidence on the premises below to see your aggregate.

    Reasons For

    2 perspectives
    Reason for 1 of 2
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    • 1.Contractualism holds that principles must be justifiable to each individual, not aggregated across persons (Scanlon, 'What We Owe to Each Other').
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    • 2.The one swimmer cannot reasonably be asked to accept a principle that discounts their life merely because others happened to be nearby.
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    • 3.A principle permitting aggregation over individuals treats persons as vessels for value rather than as ends in themselves.
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    Reason for 2 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Taurek's 1977 argument establishes that numbers alone do not determine moral weight, since suffering is not transferable across persons.
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    • 2.The five do not suffer 'five times as much' as the one; each faces the same total loss — their own death — so no aggregate loss is worse.
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    • 3.Fairness therefore requires giving each swimmer an equal chance, such as a coin flip, rather than treating majority numbers as decisive.
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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.Five swimmers will die if the lifeguard goes to the rock with one swimmer
      ?

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    • 2.One swimmer will die if the lifeguard goes to the rock with five swimmers
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    • 3.Each swimmer's life has equal moral weight
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    Strongest counterpoint
    Explore the most compelling reason on the other side.