MORAL DILEMMAS

GROUP 1
MEANING OF MORAL DILEMMA

A moral dilemma is a problem in the decision making between

two possible options, neither of which is absolutely acceptable
from an ethical perspective.
The Oxford dictionary defines ETHICAL DILEMMA as a
“decision making problem between two possible moral
imperatives, neither of which is unambiguously acceptable or
preferable. It is sometimes called an ethical paradox in moral
philosophy”. (Oxford Dictionary)
 Based on the definitions, moral delimmas have the following in common;
• “The agent is required to do each of two (or more) actions which are morally unacceptable”.
• “ The agent can do each of the action; but the agent cannot do both (or all) of the actions.”The agen thus seems
condemned to moral failure; no matter what she does, she will do something wrong (or fail to do something that
she ought to do).

This means that moral dilemmas are situations where two or

more moral values or duties make deamnds on the decision
maker, who can only honor one of them, and thus will violate at
least one important moral concern, no matter what he or she
decides to do.
In the case of The Pregnant Lady and the Dynamite, there were two options, Use the dynamite and
kill the pregnant woman but save the other five (5) or dont use the dynamite and all the 5 will get
drowned except the pregnant woman whose head is out.

To have a genuine dilemma, one of the conflicting solutions should not

override the other. For instance “the requiremnt to protect others from
serious harm overrides the requiremnt to repay one’s debts by
returning a borrowed item when its owner so demands.” Hence, “in
addition to the features mentioned above, in order to have agenuine
moral dilemma it must be true neither of the conflicting requirements
is overriden” ( McConnell, T. 2019).
Meaning of a False Dilemma
On the other hand, a false delimma is a situation where the
decision maker has a moral duty to do one thing, but is
tempted or under pressure to do something else. A false
dilemma is a choice between a right and a wrong.

For example, a lawyer or an accountant can face an

opportunity to prioritize self interest over the client’s
interest.
What to do when faced with a Moral Dilemma

Ultimately, Dilemmas are conflicts in the application of moral standards. In a state of

emergency, necessity demands no moral law. You have to decidebased on your best
judgement or choose based on the principle of lesser evil or greater good or urgency.
The Three Levels of
Moral Dilemmas

GROUP 1
Individual

This refers to personal dillemas.

The case of Heinz is one of the best known individual dilemma’s of

kohlberg’s (1958).
“Should Heinz have stolen the drugs” if he did not steal the drug that
would be mean his wife’s death. He was torn between stealing the drug
and saving his wife. The dilemma is faced by an individual who is torn
between 2 obligations- to save the wife or obey the law.
 Organizational
An organization dilemma is a puzzle posed by the dual
necessities of a social organization and members’ self interest. It
may exist between personal interests and organizational welfare
or between group interests and organizational well-being.
(Wagner, J. 2019)

Organizational Dilemmas may likewise occur in busieness,

medical and public sector. Additionaly, organizatinal dilemmas
arise due to different opposing concerns between various
groupings in an organization.
Structural

A structural dilemma is a conflict of perspective of sectors, groups and.

institutions that may be affected by the decisions.

Example:
Differentiation Versus Integration in Structural Dilemma

In essence, differentiation is about standing out from the competition,

while integration is about working together as a team to achieve common
goals. Both strategies can be effective, depending on the company's goals
and the market conditions they face.
Structural

Example:
Gap versus Overlap

There may be gaps and overlaps in roles and responsibilities. if key

responsibilities are not clearly assigned, there may be gaps or overlaps in
important task. If there are gaps, organizations end up up with no one
doing the responsibility. If there are overlaps, things become unclear and
may lead to more confusion and even conflictand worst wasted efforts.
Structural

Example:
Lack of Clarity Versus Lack of Creativity

If employees are unclear about what they are supposed to do,

they often tailor their roles around personal preferences instead
of system wide goals, frequently leading to trouble. They
rigidly follow job descriptions regardless of how much the
service or product suffers and so end up uncreative.
Structural

Example:
Flexibility versus Strict Adherse to Rules

You accomodate by bending rules rules to help someone or you

stick strictly to rules no matter what and so unable to help
someone who is thrown into a helpless situation. Or you may
become being too accommodating that all rules are no more.
Structural

Example:
Excessive Autonomy Versus Excessive Interdependence

This refers to being too isolated versus too much coordination.

Structural

Example:
Centralized versus Decentralized Decision Making

In decentralized decision making, organization can respond to

change more rapidly and effectively because the decision
makers are the people closest to the situation. However, top
managers may lose some control. This is the dillema of tight
overcentralization or diffusing authority which is loose.
 Take Note
• A moral dilemma is a “decision making problem between two possible moral
imperatives, neither of which in unambiguously acceptable or preferable.”
• A moral dilemma is a situation where a person has the moral obligation to
choose between two options based on a moral standards but he or she cannot
choose both and choosing one means violation the other.
• In a moral dilemma, one is caught between two options. it is a “Damn-if-
you-do and damn-if-you-dont situation.
• False dilemmas are situations where the decision maker has a moral duty to
do one thing, but is tempted or under pressure to do something else. A false
dilemma is a choice betweena right and a wrong unlike a moral dilemma
where both choices are wrong.
 Thanks
GROUP 1

Amardecer, Princess
Arnaiz, Michelle Joy
Aguinaldo, Shane Anthony