Would you kill an innocent person to save a loved one?

This hypothetical has only two courses of action. Either you kill an innocent person or your the person you love most will most likely die.

The odds of your loved one being killed if you don’t kill an innocent person are greater than 51%. That is all you know. And yes, you personally would have to “pull the trigger” on the innocent person.

This isn’t a trick question. I genuinely want to know what people think. The poll is anonymous.

Too dark a question, huh?

Skeptic Bob said:

Too dark a question, huh?

Click to expand...

Yep, sounds like something out of a Saw movie...

No, I don’t think I could kill an innocent person.

And yes, very dark question.

Running with that very dark theme, I'd just kill 'em both after the appropriate insurance transactions were completed. Oh, all right. Before someone else says I'm twisted - I'm kidding.

Skeptic Bob said:

This hypothetical has only two courses of action. Either you kill an innocent person or your the person you love most will most likely die.

The odds of your loved one being killed if you don’t kill an innocent person are greater than 51%. That is all you know. And yes, you personally would have to “pull the trigger” on the innocent person.

This isn’t a trick question. I genuinely want to know what people think. The poll is anonymous.

Click to expand...

well thats dark
for me my HONEST answer (many probably dont have the guts to do so) is that i dont know. It would be circumstantial. Based on the basic info you gave me its probably a know but im capable of creating scenario where i very well might be able to. Like say a walking dead scenario where the world is already all but over in a zombie apocalypse. I might be VERY capable of killing an innocent stranger to save my loved one....:shrug:

so the only answer that actually works for me is other which isnt present on your poll

Skeptic Bob said:

This hypothetical has only two courses of action. Either you kill an innocent person or your the person you love most will most likely die.

The odds of your loved one being killed if you don’t kill an innocent person are greater than 51%. That is all you know. And yes, you personally would have to “pull the trigger” on the innocent person.

This isn’t a trick question. I genuinely want to know what people think. The poll is anonymous.

Click to expand...

Situational morality and a statistical outcome, a heady mix but, does it actually change the scenario if you said that it was 100% likely that your loved one would be killed?

Skeptic Bob said:

This hypothetical has only two courses of action. Either you kill an innocent person or your the person you love most will most likely die.

The odds of your loved one being killed if you don’t kill an innocent person are greater than 51%. That is all you know. And yes, you personally would have to “pull the trigger” on the innocent person.

This isn’t a trick question. I genuinely want to know what people think. The poll is anonymous.

Click to expand...

In a heartbeat. I would feel really bad, I would accept any consequence willingly, but deep down I know that I would pull that trigger in a second. Because I know what it feels like to lose a child. And there is nothing that will make me choose that pain again. Even an innocent person.

It's selfish, and wrong, and I don't care. At that point, I'm choosing my own life over that persons. Because the alternative is a wound that goes beyond any physical pain in this world.

Skeptic Bob said:

This hypothetical has only two courses of action. Either you kill an innocent person or your the person you love most will most likely die.

The odds of your loved one being killed if you don’t kill an innocent person are greater than 51%. That is all you know. And yes, you personally would have to “pull the trigger” on the innocent person.

This isn’t a trick question. I genuinely want to know what people think. The poll is anonymous.

Click to expand...

I answered yes but the context for me would be less about if it killed an innocent person or loved one, or even if life was on the line or just harm. It’s a question of principle. I could throw any innocent to wolves if I felt it was in the best interests of my principles which certainly highly values protecting my loved ones.

So for example, if someone was intent on harming my loved one. I’d be open to use murder to protect them (as would many) even if the only way to strike was to take out innocent bystanders. I read this context into your original question. I would go to war against the world to “protect”.

That said. Justice for example is higher than protecting family. So if say my love one is reckless or guilty putting innocent lives in danger by their actions. I would be open to cede my desire for protecting them to the principle of justice and even remove myself if others had to act as hand of justice.