ETHICS/ 2-BSA1

WHAT IS DILEMMA?

A dilemma is a situation where a person is forced to choose between two or more

conflicting options, neither of which is acceptable. As we can see, the key here is that the person

has choices to make that will all have results she does not want.

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.

Types of Moral Dilemmas

There are several types of moral dilemmas, but the most common of them are categorized

into the following: 1) epistemic and ontological dilemmas, 2) self-imposed and world-imposed

dilemmas, 3) obligation dilemmas and prohibition dilemmas, and 4) single agent and multi-

person dilemmas.

1. Epistemic moral dilemmas involve situations wherein two or more moral requirements

conflict with each other and that the moral agent hardly knows which of the conflicting

moral requirements takes precedence over the other. In other words, the moral agent here

does not know which option is morally right or wrong.

Ontological moral dilemmas, on the other hand, involve situations wherein two or more

moral requirements conflict with each other, yet neither of these conflicting moral

requirements overrides each other.

 2. A self-imposed moral dilemma is caused by the moral agent’s wrongdoings. A World-

imposed moral dilemma, on the other hand, means that certain events in the world place

the agent in a situation of moral conflict.

3. Obligation dilemmas are situations in which more than one feasible action is obligatory,

while prohibition dilemmas involve cases in which all feasible actions are forbidden.

4. Finally, in single agent dilemma, the moral agent is compelled to act on two or more

equally the same moral options but she cannot choose both.

The multi-person dilemma occurs in situations that involve several persons like a family,

an organization, or a community who is expected to come up with consensual decision on

a moral issue at hand. On the one hand, the integrity of the decision ought to be defended

on moral grounds. On the other hand, the decision must also prevent the organization from

breaking apart.

Three Levels of Moral Dilemma

Level 1: Preconventional level

At the preconventional level, morality is externally controlled. Rules imposed by

authority figures are conformed to in order to avoid punishment or receive rewards. This

perspective involves the idea that what is right is what one can get away with or what is

personally satisfying. Level 1 has two stages.

Stage 1: Punishment/obedience orientation

- Behaviour is determined by consequences. The individual will obey in order to avoid

punishment.
Stage 2: Instrumental purpose orientation

- Behaviour is determined again by consequences. The individual focuses on receiving

rewards or satisfying personal needs.

Level 2: Conventional level

At the conventional level, conformity to social rules remains important to the individual.

However, the emphasis shifts from self-interest to relationships with other people and social

systems.

Stage 3: Good Boy/Nice Girl orientation

- Behaviour is determined by social approval. The individual wants to maintain or win

the affection and approval of others by being a “good person.”

Stage 4: Law and order orientation

- Social rules and laws determine behaviour. The individual now takes into

consideration a larger perspective, that of societal laws.

Level 3: Postconventional or principled level

At the postconventional level, the individual moves beyond the perspective of his or her

own society.

Stage 5: Social contract orientation

- Individual rights determine behaviour.

Stage 6: Universal ethical principle orientation

- According to Kohlberg, this is the highest stage of functioning.

References:

• https://www.britannica.com/science/Lawrence-Kohlbergs-stages-of-moral-development

• https://philonotes.com/index.php/2018/06/10/moral-dilemmas/