I’ve always held that, yes, the morally righteous choice would be the altruistic sacrifice of oneself given such a scenario.
Anyone who disagrees doesn’t disagree out of any philosophical belief, but rather selfishness. Utilitarians who would not sacrifice themselves expose themselves as hypocrites to boot.
Now, just like with all things, it’s easy to talk the talk, and markedly different to actually walk the walk.
Yet, almost everyday we hear about acts of heroism. Two men on a train in Portland, for example. They gave their lives in service of the PRINCIPLE itself, that racism and intolerance isn’t right, even though there was seemingly no imminent mortal threat to anyone.
Whether people can quantify it or not, explain the philosophy behind it, there are tons of good people willing to sacrifice themselves for strangers. Likewise, there are many who won’t.
Philosophical training has very little to do with it aside from being able to explain one’s thought process in academics terms.
