Lions-on-Line Spring Issue 2021

Spider-Man; the Virtuous Essay by Hailey Winona Mullins Peter Parker is a nerdy, girl-next-door-loving boy who finds himself with spider-like abilities after a trip to the museum. A spider had gotten loose in the exhibit and it bit Peter. Over time he had realized he could shoot webs, stick to things, and even possess a spider “sense”. Peter quickly realizes he must use his powers for good after he finds his uncle bleeding out after an armed robbery had occurred. Immediately after Uncle Ben took his last breath, Peter was off to find his murderer. Peter had every intent on killing the man who murdered his uncle, but when it came time to do it, he hesitated. The man tripped out the window and ultimately caused his own fate. Peter recalled the time his uncle had told him, “With great power comes great responsibility.” This is Peter’s driving force to make a change and be an ethical hero. But when faced with certain decisions how would Spider-Man choose what is and is not virtuous?

The Trolley Problem refers to a problem that tests your psych and how you view ethical dilemmas. You are faced with multiple hard questions, the main one being, who would you save? Would you save a larger number or one person? Whose life matters more, or are they all equal? The Trolley Problem goes as follows: a trolley is running down a track where it can either go one of two routes. The first route, there are 5 people tied down to the tracks. The second route, there is only one person tied down to the tracks. You have the ability to pull a lever and decide which route the trolley should take. There are many theories surrounding this ethical dilemma, and many questions you might have that go along with it. You might ask yourself how old are the people on the tracks?

What do they do in life? Those things might affect your decision on how you may act. Now apply this to Spider-Man’s life.

On many occasions, Peter has made the ethical decision to save everyone’s lives, no matter how strenuous. For example, he saved the bus full of kids and Mary Jane at the same time. But unfortunately for Spider36