Because deep thinking is good for the mind!

[kaaatie]

I have a hypothetical question related to a conversation that I've been having...

Let's presume that there's a group of prisoners (let's say 10 of them). An executioner puts them all in a position where each individual has a 50% chance of surviving (and a 50% chance of dying). There's no chance of escape, and no chance of rescue. However, if one of the prisoners volunteers to take the 50% chance of dying, then the other prisoners are all guaranteed to survive. The question is: do you think one of them would volunteer? Do you think the size of the group would influence the outcome?

Now, a different example.

A group of people are working in an office, and someone comes in and offers them all a chance to be given a new car (a corvette). Each individual has a 50% chance of getting a new car. However, if one person agrees to take the 50% chance at the car, then everyone else is guaranteed to get a new car. Do you think someone would volunteer? Do you think people would be more or less likely to volunteer in this example versus the other example?

I think this seems like the perfect opportunity for a poll:

[Poll #1194893]

Comments

[clayeer.livejournal.com]

interesting! in the prisoner example i wouldn't volunteer because i always consider myself to be the supporting cast. you know, if life where a movie.

[kaaatie.livejournal.com]

Thanks for answering! I personally think that I might volunteer if it didn't seem as though anyone else would, but I'm not sure. If I was actually in that situation, I might find out that I'm really a big chicken! :)

[reading-angel.livejournal.com]

That's interesting. I feel the opposite - I would volunteer because I'm the supporting cast and therefore the expendable one...

I think people would be more likely to volunteer in the life-or-death situation because they've got their priorities right there in front of them. In the car situation it's basically a matter of desiring physical possessions and people don't tend to think clearly in those sort of situations, greed tends to take over and make people jealous even of things they don't have yet...