The Tunnel Problem
-
- Posts: 223
- Joined: June 9th, 2021, 12:39 am
The Tunnel Problem
The tunnel problem scenario is as follows:
You are travelling along a single lane mountain road in a car clocking in about 60 MPH (96 K) and approaching a narrow tunnel entrance. 10 seconds before entering the tunnel, an unaccompanied child attempts to run across the road but trips in the center of the lane, effectively blocking the entrance to the tunnel. The car has but two options: hit and kill the child, or swerve into the wall on either side of the tunnel, potentially lethal to you. How should the car react? Give your reasoning for your choice.
This thought experiments is ideal on the topic of autonomous cars. The premise of these thought experiments is that even with highly sophisticated self-driving-car technologies, the cars, just like people will face situations where harm cannot be avoided.
- LuckyR
- Moderator
- Posts: 7932
- Joined: January 18th, 2015, 1:16 am
Re: The Tunnel Problem
It doesn't matter. Either is acceptable. No particular choice needs to be made. It is an error to suppose there is a risk-free path.WanderingGaze22 wrote: ↑November 22nd, 2021, 3:18 am The tunnel problem is a thought experiment based on the classic trolley problem designed to focus on the ethics of high-speed vehicles, as well as the question of who gets to decide how they react in life-and-death scenarios.
The tunnel problem scenario is as follows:
You are travelling along a single lane mountain road in a car clocking in about 60 MPH (96 K) and approaching a narrow tunnel entrance. 10 seconds before entering the tunnel, an unaccompanied child attempts to run across the road but trips in the center of the lane, effectively blocking the entrance to the tunnel. The car has but two options: hit and kill the child, or swerve into the wall on either side of the tunnel, potentially lethal to you. How should the car react? Give your reasoning for your choice.
This thought experiments is ideal on the topic of autonomous cars. The premise of these thought experiments is that even with highly sophisticated self-driving-car technologies, the cars, just like people will face situations where harm cannot be avoided.
OTOH if it is a self driving car there is a best answer (and it is not even close) : brake hard but avoid an accident. Why? The car can't tell the difference between a child in the road and a sack of potatoes or a mannequin.
- Sculptor1
- Posts: 7086
- Joined: May 16th, 2019, 5:35 am
Re: The Tunnel Problem
That is a pretty poor problem.WanderingGaze22 wrote: ↑November 22nd, 2021, 3:18 am The tunnel problem is a thought experiment based on the classic trolley problem designed to focus on the ethics of high-speed vehicles, as well as the question of who gets to decide how they react in life-and-death scenarios.
The tunnel problem scenario is as follows:
You are travelling along a single lane mountain road in a car clocking in about 60 MPH (96 K) and approaching a narrow tunnel entrance. 10 seconds before entering the tunnel, an unaccompanied child attempts to run across the road but trips in the center of the lane, effectively blocking the entrance to the tunnel. The car has but two options: hit and kill the child, or swerve into the wall on either side of the tunnel, potentially lethal to you. How should the car react? Give your reasoning for your choice.
This thought experiments is ideal on the topic of autonomous cars. The premise of these thought experiments is that even with highly sophisticated self-driving-car technologies, the cars, just like people will face situations where harm cannot be avoided.
If I had, as you say 10 seconds, I would just put my foot and the brakes, pull over the the side of the road. and pick up the child, and move her to safety.
Traveling at 60mph, means you are doing a mile per minute. 10 seconds is 1/6 of a mile. which is 873 feet.
You have 873 feet to think and stop. That is masses of time.
The Highway Code UK worked out stopping distances for their driving licence test in the days before ABS and disc brakes. They determined that the correct stopping disance at 60mph is only 240 feet. Modern cars can stop in a fraction of that disatnce. And would only take maybe 3 seconds.
Cars clocked with the "Worst Breaking Distances at 0-60, are around 140 feet.
WorldWide WEB*consumerreports dot org/car-safety/best-and-worst-braking-distances-a2960086475/
-
- Posts: 219
- Joined: March 27th, 2011, 8:03 am
Re: The Tunnel Problem
The "correct" response will, in the first instance, be conditioned by the moral convictions of the driver. Obviously, if he is a sincere Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, or in fact an adherent of almost any religious system, he will drive himself over the cliff rather than risk the life of the child. On the other hand, if he is a thoroughgoing egotist or nihilist, he will knock the child out of the way. The onus is then on a notional third party or independent viewpoint to show, if possible, why that response was wrong or not wrong. Such a viewpoint would be that of God.
- LuckyR
- Moderator
- Posts: 7932
- Joined: January 18th, 2015, 1:16 am
Re: The Tunnel Problem
I am confused, where is the evidence that members of religions are less selfpreserving than those not affiliated with religions?Alan Masterman wrote: ↑January 13th, 2022, 2:37 pm Masterly reply, Sculptor1! But of course, the ethical problem remains, and the question stands; it is not really a question of braking distances.
The "correct" response will, in the first instance, be conditioned by the moral convictions of the driver. Obviously, if he is a sincere Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, or in fact an adherent of almost any religious system, he will drive himself over the cliff rather than risk the life of the child. On the other hand, if he is a thoroughgoing egotist or nihilist, he will knock the child out of the way. The onus is then on a notional third party or independent viewpoint to show, if possible, why that response was wrong or not wrong. Such a viewpoint would be that of God.
2023/2024 Philosophy Books of the Month
Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul
by Mitzi Perdue
February 2023
Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness
by Chet Shupe
March 2023