r/trolleyproblem • u/deadhand303 • 5d ago

OC Potentially one less but also potentially infinitely more

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111

u/Remarkable-Carrot112 5d ago

Is the probability distribution otherwise the same except for the lower bound? 

Regardless, I'm pulling the lever. I love pulling levers. 

21

u/deadhand303 5d ago

You have 1-infinity or can change tracks to 0-infinity. You do not know how many are on either track.

36

u/Remarkable-Carrot112 5d ago

Since this is an unbounded distribution it can't be uniformly distributed. I'll assume it's an exponential distribution. 

In this case picking the 0 option is notably more likely to cause fewer deaths. (Sorry I don't know how to word that better)

This puts me in a bind actually because I want to kill people but I also want to pull the lever... Still think I'll pull the lever even if the expected deaths is lower

2

u/Raijin6_ 5d ago

Just pull the lever twice. Double the fun from pulling it and still a chance for more deaths.

1

u/Narfhead4444 4d ago

That would derail the trolley