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Week 2 MORAL DILEMMAS

Week-2-MORAL-DILEMMAS

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Bj Torculas
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8 views

Week 2 MORAL DILEMMAS

Week-2-MORAL-DILEMMAS

Uploaded by

Bj Torculas
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Chapter 2 MORAL DILEMMAS

Intended Learning Outcomes: At the end of this chapter, the students are expected to:

1. Detect a moral dilemma; and


2. Identify the three levels of moral dilemma.

2.1 Moral Dilemmas

➢ situations in which the decision-maker must consider two or more moral values
or duties but can only honor one of them; thus, the individual will violate at least
one important moral concern, regardless of the decision.

➢ situation where a person is forced to choose between two or more conflicting


options, neither of which is acceptable.

➢ The key here is that the person has choices to make that will all have results
he/she does not want. For example, a town mayor faces a dilemma about how
to protect and preserve a virgin forest and at the same time allow miners and
loggers for economic development in the town.

➢ It must be noted, however, that if a person is in a difficult situation but is not


forced to choose between two or more options, then that person is not in a
dilemma.

➢ The least that we can say is that, that person is just experiencing a problematic
or distressful situation.

➢ Thus, the most logical thing to do for that person is to look for alternatives or
solutions to address the problem.

➢ When dilemmas involve human actions which have moral implications, they are
called ethical or moral dilemmas.

➢ Moral dilemmas, therefore, are situations where persons, who are called “moral
agents” in ethics, are forced to choose between two or more conflicting options,
neither of which resolves the situation in a morally acceptable manner.

Consider the following example:

Lindsay is a deeply religious person; hence, she


considers killing humans absolutely wrong. Unfortunately, it is
found out that Lindsay is having an ectopic pregnancy. As is
well known, an ectopic pregnancy is a type of pregnancy that
occurs outside the uterus, most commonly in the fallopian
tubes. In other words, in ectopic pregnancy, the fetus does not
develop in the uterus.
Now, if this happens, the development of the fetus will
definitely endanger the mother. Thus, if Lindsay continues with
her pregnancy, then there is a big possibility that she will die.
According to experts, the best way to save Lindsay’s life
is to abort the fetus, which necessarily implies killing the fetus.
If we do not abort the fetus, then Lindsay, as well as the fetus,
will die.

In the above example of a moral dilemma, Lindsay is faced with two conflicting
options, namely, either she resorts to abortion, which will save her life but at the same
time jeopardizes her moral integrity or does not resort to abortion but endangers her
life as well as the fetus. Indeed, Lindsay is faced with a huge moral dilemma.

2.2 Karen Allen’s Three-Condition of Moral Dilemmas

1. First, the person or the agent of a moral action is obliged to make a decision
about which course of action is best. Here, the moral agent must choose the
best option and act accordingly. In the case of the above example, Lindsay may
opt to abort the fetus as the best course of action.

2. Second, there must be different courses of action to choose from. Hence,


as already pointed out above, there must be two or more conflicting options to
choose from for moral dilemmas to occur.

3. Third, no matter what course of action is taken, some moral principles are
always compromised. This means that, according to Allen, there is no perfect
solution to the problem.

Benjiemen Labastin said, in moral dilemmas, the moral agent “seems fated
to commit something wrong which implies that she is bound to morally fail because in
one way or another she will fail to do something which she ought to do. In other words,
by choosing one of the possible moral requirements, the person also fails on others.”

2.3 Three levels of Moral Dilemma

1. Individual Dilemma – refers to personal (primary group) dilemma of which


one/group is confronted with a problem and is forced to choose between two
or more conflicting options, neither of which is acceptable.

e.g.

➢ someone deciding whether to let their family starve or steal bread from
someone else.

➢ deciding which parent to live with.

➢ A husband learns he has a terminal illness and he decides to ask his


wife for assistance in ending the pain before it gets too bad.

➢ A friend discovers her best friend’s boyfriend is cheating. She must


decide whether to tell her friend or keep it a secret.

2. Organizational Dilemma - Organizational dilemma is a challenge for every


organization nowadays; it is all about how to match discrepancy between
individual needs and aspirations on the one hand and the organizational goals
on the other.

Ethics
Page 2 of 3
Module

USMKCC-COL-F-050
e.g.

➢ My top performer gets the job done, but his actions and attitude hurt our
culture.

➢ The team seems burned out, but we don't have time to give them a break

➢ Justice versus mercy, Truth versus loyalty, Individual versus community,


Short-term goods versus long-term goods
3. Structural Dilemma – refers to social, national, international or macro level of
dilemma. Leaders, people, or nation is confronted with a problem and is forced
to choose between two or more conflicting options, neither of which is
acceptable.

e.g.

➢ Using coal power plant or using nuclear power plant for electricity needs.

➢ Repurposing forest into subdivisions

➢ Filipino Physicians/Health Workers working overseas instead of working


in the country

Ethics
Page 3 of 3
Module

USMKCC-COL-F-050

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