Moral Dilemma Flashcards
A tough choice has to be made between two or more options, which may be equally undesirable.
Dilemma
A complex situation that often involves an apparent mental conflict between ( ), in which to obey one would result in violating another.
moral imperative
Also called ( ), which invokes an attempt to refute an ethical system or moral code, or to improve it so as to resolve the
paradox.
ethical paradoxes
Key features of Moral dilemma
- The agent is required to do each of two (or more) actions;
- The agent can do each of the actions; but the agent cannot do both (or all) of the actions.
- Neither of the conflicting moral requirements is overridden.
What are the two types of moral conflict?
Epistemic conflict and Ontological conflict
It involves conflicts between two (or more) moral requirements and the agent does not know which of the conflicting requirements takes precedence in her situation.
Epistemic conflict
It involves conflicts between two (or more) moral requirements, and neither is overridden.
It is Genuine moral dilemmas
Ontological conflict
Self-imposed moral dilemmas arise because of ( ) (Aquinas; Donagan 1977, 1984; and McConnel 1978).
the agent’s own wrong-doing
What are the three levels of Moral Dilemmas?
Individual/Personal Dilemmas
Organizational Dilemmas
Structural Dilemmas
Experienced and resolved on the personal level.
E.g. When an individual have to choose between the life of a child to be delivered and the child’s mother/ wife.
Personal Dilemmas
Ethical cases encountered and resolved by social organizations.
It is a problem of reconciling inconsistencies between individual needs and aspirations on the one hand, and the collective purpose of the organization on the other.
Includes dilemmas in business, medical field and public
sector.
Organizational Dilemmas
Cases involving network of institutions and operative theoretical paradigms.
Larger in scope and extent because they encompass multi-sectoral institutions and organizations.
Structural Dilemmas
