Letter to the editor: Answers to important questions

Thought experiments such as the one Lori Falce references in her column “Trolleys, Star Trek and a pandemic” (May 21, TribLIVE) are very common in studies of ethics. Their purpose is to test and refine the intuitions and principles we use in ethical decision making by applying them to difficult or otherwise instructive cases.

The absolute last thing that should be intended or entailed by such experiments is “there is never just one answer to an important question.” Depending on what you mean by this, your answer is either patently false or trivial. One of the more interesting lessons of your particular example is that it highlights the liabilities of purely utilitarian considerations in ethical decision making. You missed the point entirely.

You also claim your professor “cared much less about the grade you earned than the things you thought and what they motivated you to do.” So, he flunked everybody and congratulated them on having opinions?

You did your prof a big favor by not mentioning his name. Nobody likes to be reminded of their failures. On the other hand, if you actually did accurately portray what he taught, you should sue to get your money back. You’ve been robbed.

Arthur Moeller

Fairfield