Trolley Problem Variants: Five Thought Experiments Explained

You have heard people argue about the trolley problem and never quite followed why one version feels different from the next. This explains five of them, from the classic switch to the self-driving car, for someone who has never opened a philosophy book. Each gets a clear setup, the gut reaction most people have, and the principle that reaction points to.

Explain five variants of the trolley problem to someone who has never studied philosophy, using plain language and vivid but respectful scenarios. Start with the classic switch case, then cover: the footbridge variant, the loop track variant, the transplant surgeon variant, and the self-driving car variant. For each variant, briefly describe the setup, explain the moral intuition most people feel, and identify which ethical principle or tension it is designed to probe (e.g., doctrine of double effect, act vs omission, using people as means). Keep each explanation under 80 words. After all five, summarise what these variants collectively reveal about how human moral intuitions can be inconsistent.