When Intuitions Divide

What to Expect:
Some philosophical questions split people straight down the middle. Even among reflective thinkers, intuitions diverge—revealing deep differences in how we understand morality, identity, and value. In this discussion, we’ll explore three classic thought experiments where there seems to be no common intuition, only competing visions of what feels right, real, or meaningful.

We’ll raise questions such as:

• Should you pull a lever to save five lives at the cost of one—or is killing always wrong, no matter the numbers? (The Trolley Problem)
• If a machine destroys your body but creates an exact copy elsewhere with all your memories, is that still you? (The Teletransporter Case)
• Would you choose a perfect life of simulated happiness if it meant leaving reality behind? (The Experience Machine)

Each case challenges our gut reactions and forces us to ask why we feel so differently from others who seem equally reasonable. Are intuitions reliable guides, or do they simply mirror deeper philosophical commitments?

The aim is not to settle the debates, but to explore how and why our intuitions conflict—and what that reveals about human nature, morality, and selfhood.

Schedule:
18:00–18:10 – Getting to know each other
18:10–19:40 – Discussion: Three Cases of Divided Intuition
19:40–20:00 – Debrief and choosing the next topic

Everyone is welcome—no prior philosophy background needed, only curiosity and openness.

Description by ChatGPT