Railway Tracks

Special thanx to Stephanie's blog for leading me to such an interesting website dat touches on philosophy. A great mind boggling issue for us to spend our time to ponder upon. Hence, I decided to post this article I received very long ago from dunno who. It dun represent my perspective, but it represents a good thinking we should have done so. Be prepared for a long post n deep reflections.






Railway Tracks



A group of children were playing near two railway tracks, one still in use while the other disused. Only one child played on the disused track, the rest on the operational track.



The train came, and you were just beside the track interchanger.



You could have made the train change its course to the disused track and saved most of the kids. However, that would also mean the lone child playing by the disused track would be sacrificed.



Or would you rather let the train go its way?






Let's take a pause to think what kind of decision we could make.



Most people might choose to divert the course of the train, and sacrifice only one child.



You might think the same way, I guess.



Exactly, I thought the same way initially because to save most of the children at the expense of only one child was a rational decision most people would make, morally and emotionally.



But, have you ever thought that the child choosing to play on the disused track had in fact made the right decision to play at a safe place? Nevertheless, he had to be sacrificed because of his ignorant friends who chose to play where the danger was.






This kind of dilemma happens around us everyday.



In the office, community, in politics and especially in a democratic society, the minority is often sacrificed for the interest of the majority, no matter how foolish or ignorant the majority are, and how far-sighted and knowledgeable the minority are.



The child who chose not to play with the rest on the operational track was sidelined. And in the case he was sacrificed, no one would shed a tear for him.



Someone said he would not try to change the course of the train because he believed that the kids playing on the operational track should have known very well that track was still in use, and that they should have run away if they heard the train's sirens.



If the train was diverted, that lone child would definitely die because he never thought the train could come over to that track!



Moreover, that track was not in use probably because it was not safe.



If the train was diverted to the track, we could put the lives of all passengers on board at stake!






He is not a politician.



However, in a democratic society, a politician should by all means garner the support of the majority.



To sacrifice one far-sighted visionary is only one vote lost, but to sacrifice the ignorant majority may cost the politician his majority support.






So my dear friend, what is your decision?