When Play Becomes Philosophy: Video Games and the Trolley Problem

The classic trolley problem, with its stark choice of sacrificing one life for many, has become a versatile tool for video game designers. But first, what is it? The trolley problem is a classic thought experiment in ethics and psychology that explores moral decision-making in extreme situations (Naylor, 1988). 

Here's a breakdown:

Scenario: Imagine you are standing next to a runaway trolley barreling down the tracks. Five people are tied up on the tracks, guaranteed to be killed if the trolley continues on its path. Luckily, you are standing next to a lever that can divert the trolley onto a side track, where only one person is tied up.

The Dilemma: You have two options:

  1. Do Nothing:  Let the trolley continue on its path, killing the five people.

  2. Pull the Lever: Divert the trolley, sacrificing one person to save five.

The trolley problem presents a challenging moral dilemma. It forces us to consider the value of life, the consequences of our actions, and the weight of utilitarianism (maximizing overall good) versus deontology (duty-based ethics) (Greene, 2016).

Importance in Psychology:

The trolley problem is valuable to psychologists for four reasons:

1. Understanding Moral Reasoning: It provides a structured scenario to explore how people make moral decisions.  Psychologists can analyze the factors influencing these decisions, like emotions, personal values, and cultural background.

2. Cognitive Biases: The problem can reveal how cognitive biases can influence our moral judgments. For example, the availability bias might make us more likely to fear rare events like a runaway trolley accident. 

3. Development of Morality:  By presenting the problem to people of different ages, psychologists can gain insights into how moral reasoning develops throughout life. 

4. The Impact of Framing: The way the problem is presented can influence the answer.  Psychologists can study how framing the situation (e.g., pushing someone vs. pulling a lever) affects decisions.

*Note that the trolley problem doesn't provide a "correct" answer.  Instead, it serves as a powerful tool for psychologists to delve into the complexities of human morality and decision-making (Lanteri, Chelini, & Rizzello, 2008).

Three examples...

The classic trolley problem, with its stark choice of sacrificing one life for many, has become a versatile tool for video game designers. Here's how it's used ...

1. Variations on the Tracks: BioShock Infinite (2013): 

This narrative-driven first-person shooter throws a curveball at the classic trolley problem.  You control Booker DeWitt, who is tasked with rescuing Elizabeth from the floating city of Columbia.  Throughout the game, you encounter "Siphoners," machines that drain the life force of others to power the city.  You can either:

·         Deactivate the Siphon: Saves the life of the attached person but weakens the city's defenses.

·         Harvest the Siphon: Sacrifices the attached person to ensure the city's safety.

This twist on the problem forces you to consider the broader consequences of your actions.  Do you prioritize one person's life or the well-being of an entire society?  

2. The Human Cost of Progress: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015):  

This open-world RPG presents you with choices that ripple through the narrative.  In the quest "Reason of State," you encounter a village plagued by nightly drownings.  The villagers blame a monstrous creature, the Kelpie.  You can either:

·         Lift the Curse: Slays the Kelpie, a sentient being protecting its territory, but allows humans to exploit the land for resources, potentially harming the ecosystem.

·         Appease the Kelpie: Saves the Kelpie but leaves the villagers vulnerable to occasional drownings.

Here, the trolley problem is reframed as a conflict between human progress and environmental protection.  You face a no-win scenario, forcing you to consider the trade-offs of each decision. 

3. The Railroad's Ruthless Calculations: Fallout 4 (2015):  

This post-apocalyptic RPG lets you side with various factions vying for power.  The Railroad, a group dedicated to freeing synths (sentient robots), often presents trolley-like dilemmas.  For instance, in the quest "Synth Retention," you must decide:

·         Help the Railroad Escape: Assist synths fleeing the Institute, potentially endangering innocent scientists and compromising the Railroad's safety.

·         Turn in the Escaped Synths: Saves the scientists and avoids conflict with the Institute, but betrays the Railroad's ideals and potentially subjects the synths to enslavement.

This scenario explores the trolley problem through the lens of conflicting ideologies.  Do you prioritize the Railroad's goals at the potential cost of innocent lives, or do you prioritize safety over liberation?  

These are just a few examples of how the trolley problem, in all its variations, is used to create morally challenging situations in video games.  By forcing players to grapple with tough choices, these games elevate the narrative experience and push the boundaries of video game storytelling.

References

Greene, J. D. (2016). Solving the trolley problem. A companion to experimental philosophy, 173-189. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118661666.ch11

Lanteri, A., Chelini, C., & Rizzello, S. (2008). An experimental investigation of emotions and reasoning in the trolley problem. Journal of Business Ethics, 83, 789-804. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-008-9665-8

Naylor, M. B. (1988). The moral of the trolley problem. Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, 48(4), 711-722. https://doi.org/10.2307/2108017