MORAL DILEMMAS

ETHICS (BSBA 1B)

LECTURE NO. 3
WHAT ARE MORAL DILEMMAS?

These 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
1. EPISTEMIC AND ONTOLOGICAL
DILEMMAS
EPISTEMIC MORAL DILEMMA
There are two or more moral requirements that
conflict with each other. The moral agent hardly
knows which one takes precedence over the other. One
option must be better than the other; only it needs
fuller knowledge of the situation.
1. EPISTEMIC AND ONTOLOGICAL
DILEMMAS
ONTOLOGICAL MORAL DILEMMA
There are two or more moral requirements that conflict with
each other, yet neither of these conflicting moral requirements
override each other. Neither of the moral requirements is
stronger than the other; hence, the moral agent can hardly
choose between the conflicting moral requirements.
2. SELF-IMPOSED AND WORLD-IMPOSED
DILEMMA
SELF-IMPOSED DILEMMA
A self-imposed dilemma is a situation that has been
caused by the individual’s mistakes or misconduct.
The moral dilemma is self-inflicted. This can cause a
number of complications when attempting to make a
decision.
2. SELF-IMPOSED AND WORLD-IMPOSED
DILEMMA
WORLD-IMPOSED DILEMMA
A world-imposed dilemma is a situation where events that
we can’t control have created an unavoidable moral conflict.
An individual must resolve a moral dilemma, even though
the cause of it is beyond his/her control. For example, this
could be in times of war or a financial crash.
3. OBLIGATION DILEMMAS AND
PROHIBITION DILEMMAS
Prohibition dilemmas are the opposite of obligation dilemmas.
The choices that are offered to us are all, on some level,
morally reprehensible.
They can all be considered as wrong, but we must choose one.
They could be illegal, or just plain immoral. An individual must
choose between what would normally be considered as
prohibited.
4. SINGLE-AGENT AND MULTI PERSON
DILEMMAS
SINGLE-AGENT MORAL DILEMMA
The agent “ought, all things considered, to do A,
ought all things considered, to do B, and she cannot
do both A and B”.
4. SINGLE-AGENT AND MULTI PERSON
DILEMMAS
MULTI-PERSON MORAL DILEMMA
One agent, P1, ought to do A, a second agent, P2, ought to
do B, and though each agent can do what he ought to do,
it is not possible both for P1 to do A and P2 to do B”. It
requires more than choosing what is right; it also entails
that the persons involved reached a general consensus.
TYPES OF MORAL
DILEMMAS
A. SYSTEMIC (MACRO-LEVEL)

Ethical Standards are universal or general;

ethical standards apply to all who are within the
system (Example: R.A 6713 “Code of Conduct
and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and
Employees)
B. ORGANIZATIONAL (COMPANY LEVEL)

At a company or corporate level, ethical standards

are embedded in the policies and procedures of the
organization; ethical standards apply to all those
within the organization (Example: code of Ethics
for Professional Teachers)
C. INDIVIDUAL (INDIVIDUAL LEVEL)

Ethical Standards of individuals; individuals may

well have a different set of ethical standards from
their employer (organization) and this can lead to
tensions.
ANY QUESTIONS?
THANK YOU!