What is dilemma

A social dilemma is an action situation in which if it is against the social-

accepted norms. It is the situation that measure one’s maturity. Below is the scale
used by Lawrence Kohlbeg in human reasoning.
Lawrence Kohlberg’s sequence of moral reasoning
Situation: You are a loving husband/wife whose spouse was suffering from
terminal cancer. At present you are unemployed and cannot provide medicine for
your partner. One morning, your beloved was screaming in pain and you are forced
to find ways to ease the pain or better yet eradicate it. You went to a drug store that
has just opened, and the guard was out at that moment and the solitary sales agent
was busy preparing herself. The medicine was there but you are penniless to buy it,
that is just within your reach and the chance was ripe to steal it. Will you take
opportunity for your partner or back track to avoid committing?
Level 1: Pre Conventional Level – The concrete interest of an individual is merely
rewards and punishment. This is a childish mentality that are only encouraged or
discourage based on what they can get from the situation at hand.
Stage 1: “Obedience and Punishment Orientation”, People stick to the rules
o avoid punishment
Favor: If partner dies there will be trouble for you since you are the
spouse and must make a move instead of being idle.
Against: If you steal you might get caught if not your conscience will
bother you, this means that you have to make a move otherwise you will be
punished by your conscience by not doing so.
Stage 2: “Reward Orientation” – Rules are followed only for its benefits.
Obedience occurred because of the rewards. It means that the doer is only after
what can he gain from the actions he perform or did not perform.
Favor: If you steal and got caught just return the drug and forget
everything. Somehow you might end up in jail but the wife is still alive just the
same.
Against: The sin committed is not that serious so a life term is
impossible but it will still a lose-lose situation n for this will temporarily save her
life but may end up dead sooner or later.
Level 2: Conventional Morality – People approach problems as members of
society and would like to be a role model.
Stage 3: “Good Boy Morality” – Individuals show an interest in maintaining the
respect of others and is doing what is expected of them.
Favor: To be a good father is to do everything for his family that if you do
not steal the drug the people will label you as an “irresponsible father”.
Against: If you steal the drug the people will tag you as a “criminal” and will
bring dishonor to your family.
Stage 4: “Authority and Social Order maintaining Morality” – People conform to
what is right in a society.
Favor: If you have a sense of honor, you wouldn’t let your wife die by
denying the only means of saving her life. You will feel guilty and this will haunt
you for the rest of your life.
Against: You are aware that stealing is evil but the effect of that shall be
more painful one you are sent to jail. You will feel guilty and will haunt you for
the rest of your life. You are no longer honorable.
Level3: Post Conventional Morality: People use moral principles which is seen as
broader than any particular society.
Stage 5: “Morality of Rights and Laws” – People do what is right as a sense of
obligation to law and society, however they can be modified.
Favor: If you don’t steal you’ll lose the people’s respect for you avoided the
act because of fear and not reason.
Against: If you steal you’ll lose your social standing for violation the law,
don’t get carried away by emotions.
Stage 6: “Morality of an Individual Principle and Conscience” – A person follows
laws based on ethical principles. Laws that run counter to principles are violated.
Favor: If you don’t steal and wife dies you won’t be condemned by society
for you lived up o your own expectations but did not live to your own standard of
conscience.
 Against: If you steal the drug you will not be blamed by others but you’ll
condemn yourself for not living within your own conscience and your virtue of
honesty.