On the Limitations of the Trolley Problem for Evaluating the Risks Imposed by Autonomous Vehicles

Authors

  • Renato Rodrigues Kinouchi Universidade Federal do ABC

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26512/rfmc.v6i2.22105

Keywords:

trolley problem, probability, risk, values, autonomous vehicles

Abstract

In this paper I discuss the adequacy of the trolley problem original version for the issue of autonomous vehicles accidents. The main criticism concerns the impossibility of including aspects related to risks and uncertainties involved in such accidents. Next, I present an abstract model which satisfies the conceptual requirements of the standard notion of risk and which will take the form of a probabilistic trolley problem. By way of two examples, I defend that this new model is more adequate to evaluate the risks imposed by autonomous vehicles. Although not intending to solve the problem, I try to clarify how such vehicles may impose distinct risks to pedestrians and passengers, an ethical question that the original version of the trolley problem has overlooked.

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Author Biography

Renato Rodrigues Kinouchi, Universidade Federal do ABC

Bacharel em Psicologia e Psicólogo pela Universidade Federal de São Carlos (1999). Doutor em Filosofia também pela Universidade Federal de São Carlos (2004). Pós-doutorado em Filosofia da Ciência pela Universidade de São Paulo (2006). Pesquisador visitante no Instituto de Ciências Sociais da Universidade de Lisboa (2012). Atualmente é professor adjunto da Universidade Federal do ABC (desde 2006). Tem experiência nas áreas de Filosofia da Ciência, Epistemologia e Ensino de Ciências. Dentre os temas de pesquisa, incluem-se: ciência e valores, pragmatismo, filosofia e história da psicologia, viéses cogntivos.

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Published

2018-12-28

How to Cite

KINOUCHI, Renato Rodrigues. On the Limitations of the Trolley Problem for Evaluating the Risks Imposed by Autonomous Vehicles. Journal of Modern and Contemporary Philosophy, [S. l.], v. 6, n. 2, p. 115–130, 2018. DOI: 10.26512/rfmc.v6i2.22105. Disponível em: https://periodicos.unb.br/index.php/fmc/article/view/22105. Acesso em: 22 jul. 2024.

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 2 (2018): Dossiê "Colóquio UnB-USP de Lógica e Filosofia da Lógica"

Section

Articles

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