還記得幾年前「輕哲學」當道,有許多作家、學者試圖用淺顯易懂的文字詮釋許多經典哲學問題,其中一個最著名的例子叫「電車難題」。「電車難題」大致上是一個兩難的選擇題:你是個電車駕駛,開著一輛剎車壞了的電車,而電車前方軌道上有五名工人,另條備用軌道上只有一名工人,如果你什麼都不做,五個人就會被撞死,但如果你轉向備用軌道,只會撞死一個人,你會怎麼選擇?這個道德兩難,主要想探討功利主義與道德義務的論辨。有興趣的人可以參考Michael J. Sandel《正義:一場思辨之旅》(JUSTICE:WHAT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO?)一書,Youtube上也有作者本人的演說片段可參考。
Down by the salley gardens my love and I did meet, She passed the salley gardens with little snow-white feet; She bid me take love easy, as the leaves grow on the tree, But I, being young and foolish, with her would not agree. In a field by the river my love and I did stand, And on my leaning shoulder she laid her snow-white hand; She bid me take life easy, as the grass grows on the weirs, But I was young and foolish, and now am full of tears.