The Dissolution of the Trolley Problem

The trolley problem has been debated for over sixty years without resolution. This paper argues that its insolubility stems not from the difficulty of finding an answer, but from fundamental flaws in the problem itself. Through a threefold examination—mathematical, human, and meta-ethical—this paper demonstrates: if "life is priceless" is taken seriously, consequentialist calculation collapses; both options exceed the limits of any individual's psychological endurance, rendering meaningful choice impossible; and forcing an individual into such a dilemma itself violates the chooser's dignity. The trolley problem is a pseudo-problem built upon defective presuppositions. Exposing the illegitimacy of the framework, rather than seeking an answer within it, is the true resolution.