LESSON 3

Dilemma and Moral Dilemma

Lecture Notes in GEC108: ETHICS

PREPARED BY: Romeo G. Punelas, Jr., LPT

 Refers to a situation in
which a tough choice has to
be made between two or
m a more options, especially
l e m
di
more or less equally
undesirable ones. Not all
dilemmas are moral
dilemmas.
 - Also called ‘ethical dilemmas,’
moral dilemmas are situations in
which a difficult choice has to be

m a made between two courses of

l e m action, either of which entails

di transgressing a moral principle. At
the very least, a moral dilemma
involves conflicts between moral
requirements.
 a.The agent is required to do
each of two (or more)
o f a actions;
re s
a t u m a
y f e le m b.The agent can do each of
e
K ral d i
m o the actions, but the agent
cannot do both (or all) of the
actions.
 of
vls
e
e l e
r e a l
Th mor s
m a
i l em
d
  are those experienced and
resolved on a personal level.

n a l Since may ethical decisions are

r s o personally made, many, if not
Pe mas most of, moral dilemmas fall
i l em
d under, or boil down to, this
level.
 
 refer to ethical cases
encountered and resolved by
n a l social organizations. This
at io
a n iz s category includes moral
rg m a
o l em dilemmas in business, the
d i
medical field, and the public
sector.
 refer to cases
u r a l involving a network of
u c t s
st r m a institutions and
i l e m
d operative theoretical
paradigms.
 Only human beings can be ethical

a. Only human beings are

rational, autonomous, ad self-
conscious.
 Only human beings can be ethical

b. Only human beings can

act morally or immorally.
 Only human beings can be ethical

c. Only human beings are

part of the moral
community.
 references
De, Guzman, et.al. 2018. Ethics (Principles of Ethical Behavior in Modern Society). Mutya Publishing, Inc.
 
https://www.slideshare.net/LorraineSiscar/nature-of-philosophy
 
https://www.slideshare.net/ArnelLPU/lecture-23637231
 
http://www.philosophynotes.net/philosophy/nature-and-scope/philosophy-meaning-origin-and-scope/116
 
https://www.evphil.com/philosophy101.html#:~:text=Six%20Branches%20of%20Philosophy%20%2D%20Epistem
ology,branches%20originate%20from%20basic%20questions.
 
https://examples.yourdictionary.com/ethical-dilemma-examples.html
https://www.google.com/search?
q=moral+standards+images&sxsrf=ALeKk01czRAbxtknLZSe7Xrs3dcn_o9bvQ:1601294523261&source=lnms&tbm=isc
h&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi4j_X55ovsAhXaBIgKHdYGC3AQ_AUoAXoECBEQAw#imgrc=UbeTu7xCwAC_TM