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

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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.


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TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Doug Mackay
  • Director Avi Ofer
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Music Stephen LaRosa
  • Sound Designer Stephen LaRosa
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Editorial Producer Dan Kwartler
  • Fact-Checker Jennifer Nam
Additional Resources for you to Explore
Academic sources on utilitarianism, priority to the worse off, and equal treatment:
Utilitarianism by John Stuart Mill
The History of Utilitarianism
Equality or Priority by Derek Parfit
Should the number count by John M. Taurek  

Academic and public discussions of the ethical allocation of critical care resources and vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic:
Fair Allocation of Medical Resources in the Time of COVID-19
Fairly Prioritizing Groups for Access to COVID-19 Vaccines
An ethical framework for global vaccine allocation
Vaccine Rationing and the Urgency of Social Justice in the COVID-19 Response
Rationing, racism, and justice: advancing the debate around ‘colourblind’ COVID-19 ventilator allocation
Disability Rights as a Necessary Framework for Crisis Standards of Care and the Future of Health Care
NYT Article - Coronavirus ventilators and disability

Customize this lesson

Create and share a new lesson based on this one.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Doug Mackay
  • Director Avi Ofer
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Music Stephen LaRosa
  • Sound Designer Stephen LaRosa
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Editorial Producer Dan Kwartler
  • Fact-Checker Jennifer Nam

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