The Overcrowded Lifeboat
A boat has struck a rock and is sinking and the lifeboat only can seat 20 people, but there are 22 passengers, yourself included. Who gets on the lifeboat and how do you choose? Who should be sacrificed? Should the Captain always go down with the ship?The point in moral dilemma exercises is to decide based on the choices you have. You cannot make up other possible choices, they do not exist and are not possible. In this case, the rock is beneath the water and one cannot sit on it. The water is frigid and cold and they are too far from shore to swim. It’s in the lifeboat to row to safety, or die in the water.
