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🌊survival
During a deep-space mission, your crew discovers that one member is unknowingly carrying a lethal pathogen that will kill everyone within 48 hours unless that person is permanently isolated in the airlock — a death sentence. The infected crew member has no symptoms yet and insists on their right to fight for a cure alongside the team, but there is no guarantee one exists in time.
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Why this dilemma matters
These questions test what you would actually do, not what sounds good in the abstract. Choosing “Force the infected crew member into permanent isolation to protect the rest of the team, overriding their autonomy” prioritises immediate safety; choosing “Keep the crew together and race for a cure, accepting the risk that everyone may die if you fail” gives more weight to long-term cost.
Worth asking yourself
- Could you live with the outcome you skipped?
- Who pays the price you avoid?
More Survival Dilemmas
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- Your group of 13 reaches a fortified shelter — already occupied by 8 strangers at capacity. They refuse to open. Your group includes children. You could force the door; they have no weapons.