📚 Case Study Practice: The Trolley Problem | 案例分析实战：电车难题
This article provides a step-by-step walkthrough of a classic ethical case study for Year 10 Edexcel Philosophy students. You will learn how to apply utilitarian, deontological and virtue ethical theories to the trolley problem, sharpen your argument skills, and gain confidence for exam-style analysis. Each section pairs an English explanation with a Chinese translation, exactly matching the bilingual format required by your course.
本文为Year 10 Edexcel哲学学生提供一个经典伦理学案例的逐步演练。你将学会如何将功利主义、道义论与美德伦理学理论应用于电车难题，锻炼论证技巧，并为考试风格的分析建立信心。每个部分都使用英文解释配中文翻译，完全符合课程要求的双语格式。
1. Introduction: What Is a Case Study? | 引言：什么是案例分析？
In Edexcel Philosophy, a case study is a detailed examination of a particular scenario designed to test ethical theories. You are expected to identify moral issues, apply philosophical concepts, compare different approaches, and reach a reasoned judgement. The trolley problem, first introduced by Philippa Foot, remains one of the most powerful thought experiments for doing exactly that.
在Edexcel哲学中，案例分析是对某个特定情境的详细审视，旨在检验伦理学理论。你需要识别道德议题、运用哲学概念、比较不同方法，并得出合理的判断。由菲利帕·福特首次提出的电车难题，正是完成这一任务最有力的思想实验之一。
2. The Trolley Problem Scenario | 电车难题情境
Imagine a runaway trolley is hurtling down a track towards five workers who cannot escape. You are standing next to a lever that can divert the trolley onto a side track, where there is one worker. If you do nothing, five people die; if you pull the lever, one person dies. Is it morally permissible to pull the lever? Why or why not?
想象一辆失控的电车正沿着轨道冲向五名无法逃脱的工人。你站在一个道岔旁，扳动道岔可以使电车转向侧轨，而侧轨上只有一名工人。如果你什么都不做，五个人会死；如果你扳动道岔，一个人会死。扳动道岔在道德上是允许的吗？为什么允许或为什么不允许？
3. Understanding Utilitarianism | 理解功利主义
Utilitarianism is a consequentialist theory claiming that the right action is the one that maximises overall happiness or well-being. Key thinkers include Jeremy Bentham, who proposed the 'hedonic calculus' to measure pleasure and pain, and John Stuart Mill, who distinguished between higher and lower pleasures. For a utilitarian, the morally correct choice is the one that produces the greatest good for the greatest number.
功利主义是一种后果论理论，主张正确的行为是能最大化总体幸福或福祉的行为。主要思想家包括杰里米·边沁，他提出了衡量快乐与痛苦的“享乐计算法”，以及约翰·斯图尔特·密尔，他区分了高级快乐与低级快乐。对功利主义者而言，道德上正确的选择是能为最大多数人带来最大善的选择。
4. Applying Utilitarianism to the Trolley Problem | 将功利主义应用于电车难题
A utilitarian would argue that pulling the lever is not only permissible but obligatory. By sacrificing one life to save five, the net happiness increases. Bentham's calculus would weigh the intensity and duration of the lost pleasure against the pleasure preserved. Even Mill would likely agree, as the saved lives allow for the pursuit of higher pleasures like friendship and knowledge. The numbers clearly favour intervention.
功利主义者会主张，扳动道岔不仅是允许的，更是义务性的。通过牺牲一条生命拯救五条生命，净幸福增加了。边沁的计算法会衡量失去的快乐与保留的快乐的强度和持续时间。即使密尔也很可能同意，因为被拯救的生命可以追求友谊、知识等高级快乐。数量上明显支持干预。
5. Understanding Deontology (Kantian Ethics) | 理解道义论（康德伦理学）
Deontology, particularly Immanuel Kant's ethics, focuses on duty and moral rules rather than consequences. Kant's categorical imperative states that you should 'act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law'. Another formulation demands that we treat humanity, whether in ourselves or in another, always as an end and never merely as a means. Lying, breaking promises, or using someone purely for a goal are forbidden, regardless of the outcome.
道义论，尤其是伊曼努尔·康德的伦理学，关注义务和道德规则而非后果。康德的定言命令指出，“要只按照你同时能够愿意它成为一个普遍法则的那个准则去行动”。另一种表述要求我们始终将人性——无论是自己还是他人——视为目的，而绝不仅仅当作手段。撒谎、违背承诺或纯粹利用他人达成目标是被禁止的，无论结果如何。
6. Applying Deontology to the Trolley Problem | 将道义论应用于电车难题
A strict Kantian might argue that pulling the lever is morally wrong. By diverting the trolley, you are intentionally involving the lone worker in a plan to save others, thereby using that person merely as a means to an end. The maxim 'I will sacrifice an innocent person to save more lives' cannot be universalised, because if everyone did this, trust in human dignity would collapse. Therefore, a deontologist might refrain from pulling the lever, even though five would die. However, some interpretations argue that not pulling the lever also involves treating the five as a means to one's own moral purity, making the case more complex.
严格的康德主义者可能会认为扳动道岔在道德上是错误的。通过改变电车方向，你故意把那名单独工人卷入拯救他人的计划中，从而仅仅将其当作达成目的的手段。准则“我将牺牲一个无辜者以拯救更多人”不能被普遍化，因为如果每个人都这样做，对人性尊严的信任会崩溃。因此，道义论者可能拒绝扳动道岔，即使五个人会死亡。然而，一些解读认为，不扳动道岔也涉及将五个人当作保持自身道德纯洁的手段，这使得案例更加复杂。
7. Understanding Virtue Ethics | 理解美德伦理学
Virtue ethics, inspired by Aristotle, asks not 'What should I do?' but 'What kind of person should I be?' The right action flows from a virtuous character, developed through habit and practical wisdom (phronesis). Key virtues include courage, justice, temperance, and compassion. A virtuous person acts at the right time, in the right way, and for the right reason, striking the 'golden mean' between extremes.
美德伦理学受亚里士多德启发，它不问“我应该做什么？”，而是问“我应该成为什么样的人？”。正确的行为源于有美德的品格，这种品格通过习惯和实践智慧（phronesis）培养。主要美德包括勇敢、正义、节制和同情。一个有美德的人会在恰当的时间、以恰当的方式、出于恰当的理由行动，达到极端之间的“中庸之道”。
8. Applying Virtue Ethics to the Trolley Problem | 将美德伦理学应用于电车难题
A virtue ethicist would consider what a compassionate and wise person would do. Compassion might incline one to pull the lever to save five, yet courage and justice might demand acknowledging the humanity of the single worker. There is no fixed rule; a virtuous agent weighs the situation using phronesis. Many virtue ethicists would argue that pulling the lever is compatible with a compassionate character, because a truly virtuous person cares about the well-being of all involved and recognises the tragedy in either choice. The focus is on the motive and the character expressed by the action, not on the sheer number of lives.
美德伦理学家会考虑一个有同情心和智慧的人会怎么做。同情心可能会促使你扳动道岔以拯救五人，但勇敢与正义可能要求你承认那名单独工人的人性。没有固定规则；有美德的行为者会运用实践智慧权衡情境。许多美德伦理学家会认为，扳动道岔与富有同情心的品格是相容的，因为真正有美德的人关心所有相关者的福祉，并认识到无论选择哪种都有悲剧性。焦点在于动机和行动所展现的品格，而不是单纯的生命数量。
9. Strengths and Weaknesses of Each Approach | 每种方法的优点与缺点
Utilitarianism offers a clear, calculable decision procedure but can justify sacrificing individuals for the majority, which feels intuitively unjust. Deontology protects individual rights and dignity but can lead to rigid, counter-intuitive outcomes. Virtue ethics avoids cold calculation and rigid rules, emphasising moral development, but it lacks a precise action-guiding mechanism and may offer different answers depending on the agent's character. An effective exam answer should acknowledge these tensions.
功利主义提供了一个清晰、可计算的决策程序，但可能为多数人牺牲个体，这在直觉上显得不公正。道义论保护个体权利和尊严，但可能导致僵化、违反直觉的结果。美德伦理学避免了冷漠的计算和僵硬的规则，强调道德发展，但它缺乏精确的行动指导机制，并且可能因行为者的品格不同而给出不同答案。有效的考试答案应承认这些张力。
10. Comparison Table: How Each Theory Answers | 比较表：每种理论如何回答
| Theory 理论 | Should you pull the lever? 该扳动道岔吗？ | Core justification 核心理由 |
|---|---|---|
| Utilitarianism 功利主义 | Yes 是 | Maximises overall happiness, saves five lives at the cost of one 最大化整体幸福，以一条生命代价拯救五条生命 |
| Kantian deontology 康德道义论 | No (controversial) 否 (有争议) | Using the one as a mere means to save five violates the categorical imperative 将那一人仅作为手段以拯救五人，违反定言命令 |
| Virtue ethics 美德伦理学 | It depends on the virtuous agent 取决于有美德的行为者 | A compassionate, wise person would likely pull, acting with regret 富有同情心、明智的人很可能会扳动，并抱憾行动 |
11. Writing an Exam-Style Evaluation | 撰写考试风格的评估
When writing an evaluation, always state your own reasoned view while showing awareness of alternative perspectives. For example: 'Although utilitarianism provides a straightforward solution to the trolley problem, it fails to respect the intrinsic value of the individual, which makes me lean towards a deontological stance. However, a pluralistic approach combining virtues and duties may offer a more humane answer.' Use philosophical vocabulary accurately, such as 'consequentialism', 'categorical imperative', 'phronesis', and 'moral agent'.
撰写评估时，务必陈述你自己经过推理的观点，同时表明你了解其他视角。例如：“尽管功利主义为电车难题提供了直接的解决方案，但它未能尊重个体的固有价值，这使我倾向于道义论立场。然而，一种结合美德与义务的多元方法可能提供更人道的答案。”准确使用哲学术语，如“后果论”、“定言命令”、“实践智慧”和“道德行为者”。
12. Key Takeaways and Practice Tips | 关键要点与练习建议
To excel in case study questions, practise with different dilemmas such as the footbridge variant or organ transplant cases. Always structure your answer: outline the relevant theory, apply it directly to the details of the scenario, highlight strengths and weaknesses, and conclude with a balanced judgement. Time yourself to ensure you can write a full analysis within 20–25 minutes under exam conditions. Revisit the Edexcel specification to confirm which ethical theories are required at your level.
要在案例分析问题上取得优异成绩，请用不同的困境进行练习，比如天桥变体或器官移植案例。始终按照结构作答：概述相关理论，将其直接应用于情境细节，指出优缺点，并以平衡的判断收尾。计时练习，确保你能够在考试条件下20-25分钟内完成一次完整分析。重温Edexcel考试大纲，确认你当前级别要求掌握哪些伦理学理论。
Published by TutorHao | Philosophy Revision Series | aleveler.com
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