Suppose you are the driver of a trolley. The trolley rounds a bend, and there come into view ahead five track workmen, who have been repairing the track. The track goes through a bit of a valley at that point, and the sides are steep, so you must stop the trolley if you are to avoid running the five men down.
You step on the brakes, but alas they don't work. Now you suddenly see a spur of track leading off to the right. You can turn the trolley onto it, and thus save the five men on the straight track ahead.
Unfortunately...there is one track workman on that spur of track. He can no more get off the track in time than the five can, so you will kill him if you turn the trolley onto him. Is it morally permissible for you to turn the trolley? [Feel free to explain why in the replies.]
- excerpted from Judith J. Thomson's *The Trolley Problem*
I find my own opinion changing as time goes. A couple years ago I would have chosen the option opposite to the one I chose in the post and vehemently defended my position. It is indeed an excellent observation you have made about the disparity between modern society and average person philosophies. I find myself mirroring the side I "identify with" the most at different parts of my life.
Making friends is rly easy, but when you become a "floater friend" in many groups, losing their friendship is easier. And then it's just never the same.