Moral Dilemma Scenarios

Explain Why You choose that asnwer

An Office Theft
A. You are in charge of the petty cash at the office. However, a co-worker is
responsible for making a weekly trip to the bank to make the business deposit
and obtain petty cash for the following week. In a conversation with your mutual
supervisor, you are asked if the increase in the petty cash amount was enough.
You, however, have not seen any additional money. You realize your co-worker
has been pocketing the additional money. Do you:

 Tell your supervisor you have neither asked for nor received any additional petty cash and that
you suspect your co-worker is pocketing the money?
 Tell your co-worker your suspicions and give them a chance to pay the money back?
 Say nothing and just wait to see what happens

B. Midnight Death
You have worked years to be successful in your father’s business. You felt you were
obligated to take over as he worked his whole life to build the business left to him by his
father. However, the large businesses in town have seriously cut into profits and for
several years you and your family have just managed to scrape by.

Your father’s health has declined and he has been hospitalized. He has a substantial
life insurance policy that expires at midnight. If he dies before midnight, you will inherit
enough money to pursue a career you have always dreamed of and provide adequately
for your family. Do you:

 Pinch the oxygen line making it possible for your Dad to die or smother him with a pillow?
 Tell your Dad the problem and let him suggest a solution and go by what he says?
 Do nothing as you cannot imagine living with yourself if you terminate your Dad’s life?

C. Get Rich

Your friend offers you an opportunity to make a great deal of money very quickly. He
has arranged to set up an off-shore account for your profits. He will not tell you exactly
how he is making this money, but you get the impression it is not exactly legal. He only
wants an investment of $500 and promises you will have enough from your minimal
investment that you will never need to work again. Do you:

 Give him the $500, deciding if you don’t know how he is making it, you’re in the clear?
 Demand to know the details before getting involved?
 Decide you want no part of this deal, as you trust your instinct that the offer is shady and you
might even get in legal trouble?

D. Telling a Secret

Your friend tells you that they committed a crime. They explain that they are having
trouble sleeping at night and feel you are the only one they can trust with their
confession. A few days later, you read in the paper that someone has been arrested for
your friend’s crime. Do you:

 Go to the police and tell them what you know?

 Encourage your friend to confess and warn him if he does not do so, you will tell?
 Say nothing because you will not betray a friend’s confidence

Now we are going to look at some moral dilemma scenarios for you to ponder. Each
scene is characterized by the need to make a difficult decision. As with all moral
dilemmas, there is no right or wrong answer. Think carefully before responding. And
remember, you may think of a better choice than those presented.

The Life Boat

You are on a cruise and the ship encounters an unexpected storm. The storm continues
to rage and eventually you and the other passengers are told you must head to the
lifeboats and abandon ship. As people begin to line up, you realize some lines have
fewer people, some have families, and some seem to have younger, single people. You
know you are strong and capable. Do you choose to help a group composed of three
families with a few young children, a group of seniors who obviously could use your
help, or go with the young, strong people, with whom you might have a better chance of
survival?

Sarcastic Friend

Your friend has a great sense of humor. However, sometimes his jokes involve making
fun of others in inappropriate ways. He will point out a physical flaw or look for
something odd or different about a person and make an unkind comment. You feel
uncomfortable when your friend does this. Do you say something or just laugh along
with him?