[Shaun]

Was just randomly re-watching the Dark Knight and the thought crossed my mind that this was already a "moral dilemma" posted on here. But here goes.

For those who haven't seen the film, or aren't sure what I'm talking about, the situation is this:

You are on board a ship rigged with explosives, with around 1000 other civilians and average citizens aboard.

You are told by the terrorist(s) that a 2nd boat, carrying 1000 convicted criminals, is also rigged with explosives.

You are then presented with a detonator, for the other ship's boat. If you press it, the criminals all die (but bear in mind there are also policemen and prison workers escorting them). But the terrorist(s) inform you that the criminals have a detonator for your boat, and are offered the same choice. You are then told that if neither boat chooses to detonate, you will both be blown up.

You have no communication with the other boat as to secure a truce, and you have half an hour to come to a decision. You're the one holding the detonator. What do you do?

disclaimer: you do not know if, like in the Dark Knight, there's a rather honorable burly black criminal who takes the high road and throws the detonator overboard