Date of Award

2021

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Tunick, Mark

Abstract

There are several different normative ethical frameworks one can use for determining or measuring the value of a human life, including deontological and utilitarian theories on how we ought to make decisions regarding which lives have more value. I intend to evaluate these frameworks and apply them to the problem of self driving cars, which pose both ethical and legal issues. These cars will have to be programmed to make decisions in the case of emergency situations, and the question of who and how we should be programming these vehicles to best promote the common good is a difficult one. I will argue that utilitarianism is the best way to make decisions in the case of choosing between 2 lives, and that self-driving cars should be programmed to do the least damage possible, even if that means sacrificing the life of the passenger. In addition, I will argue for the programming of self-driving cars to be uniform across manufacturers, with liability generally falling on the manufacturer in cases of injury or malfunction.

Comments

Thesis (B.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, 2021

Extent

42 p.

Identifier

FAUHT00153

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