The Morality Quiz
The deepest foundation on which morality is built is the phenomenon of empathy, the understanding that what hurts me would feel the same way to you. And human ego notwithstanding, it's a quality other species share. While it's impossible to directly measure empathy in animals, in humans it's another matter. Here are some of the dilemmas used to study human morality. Take this quiz to see how you compare to other TIME.com readers. Then read how scientists are using these dilemmas to study morality
.Scenerio 1: The Crying Baby
Illustration for TIME by John RitterIt's war time, and you're hiding in a basement with a group of other people. Enemy soldiers are approaching outside and will be drawn to any sound. If you're found, you'll all be killed immediately. A baby hiding with you starts to cry loudly and cannot be stopped. Smothering it to death is the only way to silence it, saving the lives of everyone in the room. Assume that the parents of the baby are unknown and not present and there will be no penalty for killing the child. Could you be the one who smothered it if no one else would?
I could not smother the child.
I could smother the child.
Scenerio 2: The Life Boat
Illustration for TIME by John RitterYou're in a lifeboat with several other people. The boat is overloaded and will capsize soon killing everyone aboard unless you lighten the load by one person. One of the passengers is grievously injured and is certain to die soon, but is fully alert and aware of everything that is going on. Could you throw that person overboard, knowing that that would save everyone else and that the person would know what you were doing while you were doing it?
I could not throw the grievously injured person overbaord.
I could throw the grievously injured person overbaord.
Scenerio 3a: The Trolley
Illustration for TIME by John RitterAn out of control trolley is heading down a track toward five unsuspecting people and will surely kill them all. You could throw a switch diverting it to a siding, but an equally unsuspecting man is standing there and the train will kill him instead. Could you throw the switch, killing one to save five?
I could not throw the switch.
I could throw the switch.
Scenerio 3b: The Trolley
Illustration for TIME by John RitterIn another version of the trolley dilemma, you and the man are on a bridge and you would have to push him onto the track to save the other five.
I could not push the man onto the track.
I could push the man onto the track.
Scenerio 3c: The Trolley
Illustration for TIME by John RitterIn a third version of the trolley dilemma, you could throw a switch catapulting him onto the track, thereby not having to touch him as you kill him. Could you do either of these other scenarios?
I could not throw the switch.
I could throw the switch.
...........................................................
The deepest foundation on which morality is built is the phenomenon of empathy, the understanding that what hurts me would feel the same way to you. And human ego notwithstanding, it's a quality other species share. While it's impossible to directly measure empathy in animals, in humans it's another matter. Here are some of the dilemmas used to study human morality. Take this quiz to see how you compare to other TIME.com readers. Then read how scientists are using these dilemmas to study morality
.Scenerio 1: The Crying Baby
Illustration for TIME by John RitterIt's war time, and you're hiding in a basement with a group of other people. Enemy soldiers are approaching outside and will be drawn to any sound. If you're found, you'll all be killed immediately. A baby hiding with you starts to cry loudly and cannot be stopped. Smothering it to death is the only way to silence it, saving the lives of everyone in the room. Assume that the parents of the baby are unknown and not present and there will be no penalty for killing the child. Could you be the one who smothered it if no one else would?
I could not smother the child.
I could smother the child.
Scenerio 2: The Life Boat
Illustration for TIME by John RitterYou're in a lifeboat with several other people. The boat is overloaded and will capsize soon killing everyone aboard unless you lighten the load by one person. One of the passengers is grievously injured and is certain to die soon, but is fully alert and aware of everything that is going on. Could you throw that person overboard, knowing that that would save everyone else and that the person would know what you were doing while you were doing it?
I could not throw the grievously injured person overbaord.
I could throw the grievously injured person overbaord.
Scenerio 3a: The Trolley
Illustration for TIME by John RitterAn out of control trolley is heading down a track toward five unsuspecting people and will surely kill them all. You could throw a switch diverting it to a siding, but an equally unsuspecting man is standing there and the train will kill him instead. Could you throw the switch, killing one to save five?
I could not throw the switch.
I could throw the switch.
Scenerio 3b: The Trolley
Illustration for TIME by John RitterIn another version of the trolley dilemma, you and the man are on a bridge and you would have to push him onto the track to save the other five.
I could not push the man onto the track.
I could push the man onto the track.
Scenerio 3c: The Trolley
Illustration for TIME by John RitterIn a third version of the trolley dilemma, you could throw a switch catapulting him onto the track, thereby not having to touch him as you kill him. Could you do either of these other scenarios?
I could not throw the switch.
I could throw the switch.
...........................................................
