Moral judgments under uncertainty: risk, ambiguity and commission bias

Abstract Previous research on moral dilemmas has mainly focused decisions made under conditions of probabilistic certainty. We investigated the impact uncertainty preference for action (killing one individual to save five people) and inaction (saving but allowing people die) in dilemmas. reported two experimental studies that varied framing (gain vs loss), levels risk (probability gain loss) ambiguity (imprecise probability information) choice individuals by sacrificing one. found participants preferred actions with (risk/ambiguity) over inaction. Specifically, we precise information (risk) inaction, they modest or high probabilities, especially when had a loss frame. also observed commission bias Study 2. discussed implications decision-making.