There are two reasons someone would make the non-utilitarian answer to the questions:
- They wouldn't feel that they could bring them self to cause someone's death (but they could still be utilitarian in principle)
- They feel that it's not the right ethical choice
A well known consequence of consuming alcohol is "dutch courage", becoming bolder and more risk-taking. I suspect the differences seen are actually just the utilitarian-in-principle folk being a bit braver.
Rather than asking:
"people must choose whether they would flip a switch to divert a runaway trolley, killing one person but sparing five others"
They could've asked what they think the correct thing for someone else to do would be.
- They wouldn't feel that they could bring them self to cause someone's death (but they could still be utilitarian in principle)
- They feel that it's not the right ethical choice
A well known consequence of consuming alcohol is "dutch courage", becoming bolder and more risk-taking. I suspect the differences seen are actually just the utilitarian-in-principle folk being a bit braver.
Rather than asking:
"people must choose whether they would flip a switch to divert a runaway trolley, killing one person but sparing five others"
They could've asked what they think the correct thing for someone else to do would be.