You are the captain of an interstellar cargo transport headed to port when you receive two distress calls. The first is from a labor ship, whose passengers are running out of oxygen. The other from a luxury space cruiser which has lost a thruster, sending them careening into danger. With only enough time to save one ship, which should you choose? Doug MacKay explores this classic ethical dilemma. [Directed by Avi Ofer, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Stephen LaRosa].

Doug MacKay: You can only save one— who do you choose?

You can only save one— who do you choose?

Choosing between saving 30 laborers or 20 students in space raises a moral dilemma, questioning the value of life and happiness.

Utilitarianism suggests saving more lives maximizes happiness, yet longer potential life spans introduce a complex ethical calculus.

A coin flip, treating all lives with equal respect, emerges as a fair solution in the debate on prioritizing lives in rescue missions.