G-SOSC004 (ETHICS)

MIDTERM CHAPTER 2: MORAL EXPERIENCES

WHAT ARE DILEMMAS?

- WHAT ARE MORAL DILEMMAS?
o A dilemma is a situation where a person is forced to choose between two or more
conflicting options, neither of which is acceptable.
o The person has choices to make that will all have results she does not want. 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.
o When dilemmas involve human actions which have moral implications, they are called
ethical or moral dilemmas.
o Moral dilemmas 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.
o According to Karen Allen, there are three conditions that must be present for situations
to be considered moral dilemmas.
▪ The person or the agent of a moral action is obliged to make a decision about
which course of action is best.
▪ There must be different courses of action to choose from.
▪ No matter what course of action is taken, some moral principles are always
compromised.
- TYPES OF MORAL DILEMMAS
o EPISTEMIC AND ONTOLOGICAL DILEMMAS: In epistemic moral dilemmas, the moral
agent does not know which option is morally right or wrong. On the other hand,
ontological moral dilemmas, neither of the moral requirements is stronger than the
other hence, the moral agent can hardly choose between the conflicting moral
requirements.
o SELF-IMPOSED AND WORLD-IMPOSED DILEMMAS: A self-imposed moral dilemma is
caused by the moral agent’s wrongdoings. A world-imposed moral dilemma means that
certain events in the world place the agent in a situation of moral conflict.
o OBLIGATION DILEMMAS AND PROHIBITION DILEMMAS: Obligation dilemmas are
situations in which more than one feasible action is obligatory. Prohibition dilemmas
involve cases in which all feasible actions are forbidden.
o SINGLE AGENT AND MULTI-PERSON DILEMMAS: 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. In multi-person dilemma, it 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. The multi-person dilemma requires more
than choosing what is right, it also entails that the persons involved reached a general
consensus.