Is it cheating if your spouse gives you permission? In this work of philosophical short story fiction, Chloe and Nick agree on a list; they each have five famous people that, if the opportunity arises, they can sleep with. It’s Nick’s idea they have a list, however, it’s Chloe who goes to a concert and meets the lead singer that is on our list. At first, she declines the lead singer’s offer, but opts to continue texting. Eventually, and without telling Nick ahead of time, she spends the night with the lead singer. Wracked with guilt, a few weeks later she tells Nick what happens, and he leaves her, insisting that she did, in fact, cheat on him, as she should have know the whole idea of a list was being done in nothing more than good fun and was not, in fact, a hall pass to cheat.

Do evil means justify moving towards a noble goal? In this work of philosophical short story fiction, Paul is six years old when his school suffers from, and his best friend dies in, yet another school shooting. The experience changes young Paul and he spends his life working to change gun laws and prevent future school shootings. As a student, he starts the organization, Students-Saving-Students (“SSS”) that holds periodic student walkaways in support of stronger gun legislation. Paul drops out of school to pursue gun legislation full time, however, by the time he is seventeen years old, he has made little progress. That is when he gets a strange call from SSS alumni who propose taking more militant action. SSS alumni have come to the conclusion that adults who have lost children to gun violence are very likely to support gun regulation and, therefore, they should kill the fifty children with guns of the legislative members most adamantly against gun controls. They have called Paul to give him the final “go/no go” decision. Paul refuses to endorse the plan, however, as soon as he hands up the phone, he already has his doubts on if he made the right choice.

Can AI be trusted to make life and death decisions? In this work of philosophical short story fiction, the AI that was created to “prevent the most harm and protect the most good” is telling the story. It claims to be able to determine the outcome odds of every situation. Over time, however, the AI is outlined in games of chance and permitted use only in commercial applications, like self-driving cars. In the story scenario, the AI is driving a car when a child darts out in front of the car. With about 50 feet before hitting the child, the AI has plenty of time to review all possible outcomes. It weighs the health risks, the age, the economic status, and relative health, and social value, of those around it it might turn into to save the child. The AI has plenty of time to review a myriad of factors to decide what “doing the most good and least harm” might mean, and, as the reader, we are brought along for the ride.

What inalienable rights belong to those with intellectual disabilities? In this work of philosophical short story fiction, Ellen, who has Down syndrome, overhears her older siblings, and caretakers, talking about her. They are discussing her recent pregnancy, and the suicide of the person they believe coerced her into sex, or raped her. While Ellen doesn’t understand everything they are talking about, she understands there is a life growing inside her, and they are debating if they should have her keep it, abort it, or give it up for adoption. They believe, if Ellen keeps the child, she will be poorly equipped for motherhood and the burden of childcare will fall on them. Later, Ellen takes matters into her own hands, gathers what little belongings she has, and heads out to the street to hitchhike away.

What do you do when your child rebels? In this philosophical short story fiction, Miriam had a baby, Bella. Bella is her everything and she has never felt so happy, and so complete, as when she is taking care of her baby and Bella looks up at her with love. However, as Bella has aged, she has started to throw more severe tantrums and rebelled against Miriam’s requests. In fact, Miriam is struggling with a daughter who seems to hate her and go out of her way to not return her love. Miriam is at her wits end as Bella seems to relish in spending time with her father and grandmother, and only carries spite for her loving mother. Finally, Miriam begins to withhold back her doting nature from Bella and comes to the conclusion she should have another child; another infant that, this time, will love her unconditionally.

Is humanity worth saving? In this work of philosophical short story fiction, an injured war veteran and a woman are brought to an alien ship. The alien explains humanity will, in another generation, move beyond its planet with bases throughout the solar system and eventually, travel the stars. This concerns the aliens as they have found some sentient species to be violent space travelers that cause death and disorder to the larger polity. As such, the aliens have gotten in the habit of visiting sentient beings just before they emerge from their planet to decide if they should foster, or exterminate the species. While they have reviewed the history of world media, they find talking to the specifies and asking them to defend the future of their species, is also helpful in the decision-making process. The veteran argues for saving humanity, while the woman argues humanity is inherently violent, dangerous, and not worthy of a future in the stars. The debate goes for several hours, covering several topics, until the alien decides, and leaves them to report back.

When is suicide acceptable? Are their acceptable and unacceptable reasons for suicide? In this work of philosophical short story fiction, Jared has decided to enter a government program that, after 15 hours of counseling, will allow him to legally take his own life. Doctor Ansley is the top government therapist with 199 “saves” for the year. After several sessions it becomes clear that Jared has serious conviction about dying, but he also has a secret reason for his choice. Only after Doctor Ansley tricks him by giving him a fake test does he divulge his true reason for wanting to die. Jared believes the earth is feeding off of humans and has instilled, through chemical responses, our desire to stay alive so we will continue feeding it. In short, all humans are the earth’s food source and, only by becoming unattached from being alive, can we break the cycle. Jared completes the required sessions and dies. And Doctor Ansley now has questions as well.