Philosophical question: You're trapped... there's no escape... would you push the button?

[Phokus]

Ok here's the scenario:

You wake up in a groggy haze and you have no idea where you are and how you got there. The only thing you see is 4 concrete walls, a concrete ceiling and a concrete floor, there's no way out. You see on one of the walls that there is a big red button with a note attached that says the following:

There are 11 other people in the same situation that you are in right now. The first 11 people to push the button will live. All the rooms are booby trapped. If 11 people push the button, the 12th person who didn't push the button will activate the booby trap and die.

Note: you don't know the other 11 people at all. Would you press the button? Also, explain why or why not.

Edit: Also note that there's no way you can contact the other 11 people (you can't bang on the walls or scream or anything... they just won't hear you or each other).

 

[Schadenfreude]

That's not a philosophical question, n00b.

 

[QuitBanningMe]

Yes
Mainly because I know other people faced with the situation would.

 

[csyberblue]

this reminds me of the movie SAW

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: Jehovah
That's not a philosophical question, n00b.

 

[Phokus]

Originally posted by: csyberblue
this reminds me of the movie SAW

i may have to see this movie

 

[Phokus]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: Jehovah
That's not a philosophical question, n00b.

whatever, just vote you dorks :|

 

[sharkeeper]

I don't push buttons. That's what they pay me for. I solve the problem. The solution is obvious. I'm carrying something that 99.99995% of the population doesn't.

 

[neonerd]

yup, definately sounds like it's from SAW

 

[Phokus]

Originally posted by: sharkeeper
I don't push buttons. That's what they pay me for. I solve the problem. The solution is obvious. I'm carrying something that 99.99995% of the population doesn't.

What are you carrying?

 

[JoeKing]

Yes I push the button. Sad to say but you can rely on people looking out for themselves over others nowadays.

 

[TuxDave]

How about if the 12th person pushes the button, everyone dies! :evil:

 

[boyRacer]

Yes because the other people wouldn't give a sh*t about me either.

 

[iamme]

i would have pushed the button first and then read the note :evil:

 

[TheNinja]

Yes, why wouldn't you? The longer you wait the greater chance that you'll die. And if you never press the button your die of thirst in a few days anyway.

 

[Phokus]

Originally posted by: TuxDave
How about if the 12th person pushes the button, everyone dies! :evil:

That would be a possibility, you don't know whether the person who wrote the note is lying or not :evil:

 

[amol]

Originally posted by: bR
Yes because the other people wouldn't give a sh*t about me either.

 

[Phokus]

Originally posted by: TheNinja
Yes, why wouldn't you? The longer you wait the greater chance that you'll die. And if you never press the button your die of thirst in a few days anyway.

Note: You don't know that you'll be freed if you do press the button (although i guess the hope of being freed might factor into the decision to push the button). You just don't know what happens for sure

 

[Kibbo]

Tough one. Considering the time constraint, I would likely panic and hit the button. If I had more time. . .I really don't know.

 

[eLiu]

i'd wait a good long time, then push the button. I figure I'd rather be dead than run the risk of getting further pwned by whoever was running this show.

 

[Phokus]

Originally posted by: Kibbo
Tough one. Considering the time constraint, I would likely panic and hit the button. If I had more time. . .I really don't know.

Ok, now what if i up the number of people in the same situation (say from 12 people to 100 people). Would that factor into your decision? Maybe you hope there's a greater chance that 2 or more people won't push the button?

 

[PHiuR]

yeah ofcourse man...you dont know the other people. its natural instinct for us to want to survive.

that is unless its a trick question...and the 12th person is the one who survives...hmmmmmmm

 

[yobarman]

I'd push it as fast as possible. Only the strong survive!

 

[Phokus]

Originally posted by: PHiuR
yeah ofcourse man...you dont know the other people. its natural instinct for us to want to survive.

that is unless its a trick question...and the 12th person is the one who survives...hmmmmmmm

It's not a 'trick' question in the sense that i'm trying to trick you.

It COULD be a trick though. You just don't know if the person who wrote the note is telling the truth or not on what will happen. Also, you don't know what will happen afterwards.

It could be that if just one person pushes the button, it'll activate the booby trap (for him or everyone)

It could be that the 12th person who doesn't push the button survives and everyone else dies (maybe the twisted person/people wants to reward the one who isn't greedy and only self-interested).

It could be that no matter what, everyone dies (there's a timer on the booby trap).

Maybe nothing happens either way

Or maybe the person/people are telling the truth and the 12th person dies, but everyone else starves/thirsts to death (or they're given their freedom).

Etc. etc.

 

[mcvickj]

My first thought was "Hell yes I would press the button" but after thinking about it I'm not certain. If you are one of the 11 who gets to live do you get to leave the concrete box? If you don't get to leave I would just hold off on pressing the button. Might as well go quickly than die from boredom.