Ethics - Moral Dilemma

Dr. Marilyn Vea Rondon

16 Sept 202312:26

Summary

TLDRDr. Marilyn Verreledon's lesson on moral dilemmas explores the concept and its importance in decision-making. Students learn to consider ethical rules and reasoning to make the right choices, developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The lesson covers various types of moral dilemmas, including epistemic, ontological, self-imposed, world-imposed, obligation, prohibition, single agent, and multi-person dilemmas, using case studies to appreciate ethical principles. The goal is to equip students with the ability to explain moral dilemmas, write reflective journals on personal experiences, and understand the complexities involved in ethical decision-making.

Takeaways

📚 The lesson aims to teach students about the concept of moral dilemmas and the importance of ethical reasoning in decision-making.
🤔 Moral dilemmas involve a conflict of morals where one must choose between two or more options, often leading to a compromise of one moral obligation for another.
📝 Students will learn to explain the concept of moral dilemma, write a reflective journal on personal experiences, and appreciate ethical principles through case studies.
🚫 Karen Allen outlines three conditions for a situation to be considered an ethical dilemma: a choice must be made, there are multiple actions to choose from, and no perfect solution exists without compromising an ethical principle.
🔑 The types of moral dilemmas include epistemic, ontological, self-imposed, world-imposed, obligation, prohibition, single agent, and multi-person dilemmas.
👗 An epistemic dilemma requires fuller understanding before making a moral decision, such as Arlene's choice between buying a new dress or helping her sister financially.
🌊 An ontological dilemma involves conflicting moral obligations that are equal in their moral consequences, like choosing who to save with a single life vest during a flood.
🏆 Self-imposed dilemmas occur when an individual's actions create a moral conflict, such as a politician promising to protect forests while seeking financial support from a mining corporation.
🌐 World-imposed dilemmas arise from external events, like war or financial crashes, that force individuals into ethical conflicts.
👨‍👦 In an obligation dilemma, multiple actions may be obligatory, but one can only choose one, as seen in the movie 'Most' where a father must choose between saving his son and many passengers.
🚫 A prohibition dilemma presents choices that are all morally wrong, such as a father's decision to engage in morally questionable activities to provide for his family during a recession.
👩‍⚕️ Single agent dilemmas involve an individual making a choice between equally weighted ethical options, like a doctor deciding between reporting a COVID-19 case and respecting patient confidentiality.
👥 Multi-person dilemmas require consensus among multiple parties, such as communities deciding on lockdown measures during a pandemic.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Dr. Marilyn Vereldon's lesson?
-The main focus of Dr. Marilyn Vereldon's lesson is to discuss the essential concept of moral dilemma, emphasizing the importance of ethical rules and reasoning in making the right decisions.
How does the lesson aim to benefit students?
-The lesson aims to benefit students by developing their critical thinking and problem-solving skills through discussions and learning activities related to moral dilemmas.
What are the three outcomes students are expected to achieve after the lesson?
-After the lesson, students are expected to explain the essential concept of moral dilemma, write a reflective journal about their personal experience of a moral dilemma, and appreciate ethical principles concerning moral dilemmas through case studies.
What is an example of a moral dilemma presented in the lesson?
-An example of a moral dilemma presented is a person having to choose between saving their girlfriend or their mother from a disastrous flood, highlighting the conflict between two moral obligations.
What are the three conditions that must be present for a situation to be considered an ethical dilemma according to Karen Allen?
-According to Karen Allen, an ethical dilemma requires a person to make a decision when there are different ways of action to choose from, and no perfect solution exists because some ethical principle is compromised.
What is the case of Angela in the script, and what moral conflict does she face?
-Angela is a Christian facing an ectopic pregnancy. The moral conflict she faces is whether to have an abortion to save her life, which compromises her moral integrity, or to continue the pregnancy and risk her life and the fetus.
What are the two types of moral dilemmas mentioned in the script?
-The two types of moral dilemmas mentioned are epistemic dilemmas, where the moral agent needs fuller understanding before deciding, and ontological dilemmas, where conflicting moral obligations are equal in their moral consequences.
Can you explain the difference between a self-imposed and a world-imposed dilemma?
-A self-imposed dilemma is caused by the agent's own actions, such as making a promise that conflicts with another moral obligation. A world-imposed dilemma arises from external events or situations that place the agent in an ethical conflict, such as war or financial crisis.
What is an obligation dilemma, and can you provide an example from the script?
-An obligation dilemma is a situation where more than one possible action is obligatory, but the individual can only choose one. An example from the script is the movie 'Most,' where a father has to choose between saving his son and saving hundreds of passengers on a train.
What is a prohibition dilemma, and how does it differ from an obligation dilemma?
-A prohibition dilemma involves choices that are all morally reprehensible or wrong, unlike an obligation dilemma where multiple choices are obligatory. An example is a father with five children who is forced to consider morally wrong actions like snatching or fishing to provide for his family due to unemployment.
What is a single agent dilemma, and how does it relate to a multi-person dilemma?
-A single agent dilemma involves one moral agent choosing between equally ethical options. A multi-person dilemma involves multiple persons, such as a family or community, who need to reach a consensus decision on a moral issue, making it more complex than a single agent dilemma.

Outlines

00:00

😖 Understanding Moral Dilemmas

Dr. Marilyn Vereldon introduces the concept of moral dilemmas, emphasizing the importance of ethical rules and reasoning in decision-making. The lesson aims to develop students' critical thinking and problem-solving skills. A moral dilemma is defined as a conflict where a decision-maker must choose between two or more options, potentially violating another moral obligation. The case of Angela, facing an ectopic pregnancy and moral conflict over abortion, illustrates this concept. Karen Allen's three conditions for an ethical dilemma are discussed, highlighting the need for a choice, multiple action options, and the impossibility of a perfect solution without ethical compromise. The paragraph also outlines different types of moral dilemmas, including epistemic, ontological, self-imposed, world-imposed, obligation, and prohibition dilemmas.

05:00

🤔 Exploring Types of Moral Dilemmas

This paragraph delves deeper into the types of moral dilemmas, starting with epistemic dilemmas where the moral agent requires more knowledge to make a morally right decision, exemplified by Arlene's choice between buying a new dress or helping her sister financially. Ontological dilemmas involve conflicting moral obligations without disregarding each other, as illustrated by the life vest scenario during a typhoon. Self-imposed dilemmas arise from personal actions, like Jay's campaign promise versus financial support from a mining corporation. World-imposed dilemmas are caused by external events, such as war or financial crises. Obligation dilemmas present situations where multiple actions are obligatory, but only one can be chosen, as shown in the movie 'Most'. Prohibition dilemmas offer choices that are all morally wrong, like jobless individuals resorting to morally questionable means during a recession.

10:02

👥 Single Agent vs. Multi-Person Dilemmas

The final paragraph discusses single agent and multi-person dilemmas. In single agent dilemmas, the moral agent faces equal ethical options but can only choose one, such as a medical doctor's conflict between reporting a COVID-19 case and respecting patient confidentiality. Multi-person dilemmas involve multiple parties, like a community, needing to reach a consensus on a moral issue, exemplified by the GCQ lockdown scenario. The paragraph concludes by emphasizing the complexity of moral decision-making in various social contexts and the importance of consensus in group moral dilemmas.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Moral Dilemma

A moral dilemma is a complex situation where an individual must choose between two or more conflicting moral obligations, often resulting in a difficult decision that may violate another moral principle. In the video, the concept is central to the discussion, with examples such as saving a girlfriend or a mother from a flood, illustrating the conflict between personal relationships and moral choices.

💡Ethical Rules and Reasoning

Ethical rules provide guidelines for determining right from wrong, while ethical reasoning involves the thought process used to apply these rules to specific situations. The video emphasizes the importance of considering ethical rules and reasoning in making decisions, especially in the context of moral dilemmas, to help students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

💡Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment. The video suggests that studying moral dilemmas can help students develop critical thinking skills by analyzing ethical principles and making informed decisions in complex situations.

💡Problem Solving

Problem solving refers to the process of finding solutions to complex issues or challenges. The video implies that understanding moral dilemmas can enhance students' problem-solving abilities by equipping them with the tools to navigate and resolve ethical conflicts.

💡Reflective Journal

A reflective journal is a personal record where individuals reflect on their experiences, thoughts, and feelings. In the context of the video, students are encouraged to write a reflective journal about their personal experiences with moral dilemmas, which can help them to better understand their own ethical decision-making processes.

💡Ethical Principles

Ethical principles are fundamental beliefs about what is right and wrong that guide moral behavior. The video discusses the appreciation of ethical principles in the context of moral dilemmas, such as the case of Angela, who must decide between her religious beliefs and her physical health.

💡Epistemic Dilemma

An epistemic dilemma arises when an individual lacks complete knowledge or understanding to make a morally right decision. The video uses the example of Arlene deciding between buying a new dress or helping her sister financially, highlighting the need for fuller understanding before making a choice.

💡Ontological Dilemma

An ontological dilemma involves a situation where two or more moral obligations conflict but do not disregard each other, making it challenging for the moral agent to choose. The video provides the example of a person needing to evacuate during a flood with only one life vest, illustrating the difficulty of choosing between equally important moral obligations.

💡Self-Imposed Dilemma

A self-imposed dilemma occurs when an individual's actions or promises create a moral conflict for themselves. The video describes Jay, who promised to protect forests to gain votes but later faced the dilemma of fulfilling his promise or allowing a mining corporation to destroy the forest, demonstrating how personal actions can lead to ethical conflicts.

💡World-Imposed Dilemma

A world-imposed dilemma is a situation where external events or circumstances place an individual in an ethical conflict. The video suggests that such dilemmas can arise in times of war or financial crisis, indicating that global events can force individuals to confront moral challenges.

💡Obligation Dilemma

An obligation dilemma is a situation where multiple actions are considered obligatory, but only one can be chosen, leading to a conflict of duties. The video references the movie 'Most' where a father must choose between saving his son or many passengers on a train, showcasing the conflict between personal and societal obligations.

💡Prohibition Dilemma

A prohibition dilemma occurs when all available choices are morally wrong or reprehensible. The video uses the example of Marco, a jobless father during a pandemic, who must decide between stealing or fishing illegally to provide for his family, illustrating the difficult choices one might face when all options violate moral principles.

💡Single Agent Dilemma

A single agent dilemma involves a situation where one person must act on multiple ethical options but can only choose one. The video mentions a medical doctor who must decide between reporting a patient with COVID-19 to respect legal requirements or maintaining patient confidentiality, highlighting the internal conflict of a single moral agent.

💡Multi-Person Dilemma

A multi-person dilemma involves multiple individuals or a group that must reach a consensus decision on a moral issue. The video gives the example of a community deciding on lockdown measures during a pandemic, emphasizing the complexity of moral decisions that affect many people and require collective agreement.

Highlights

Dr. Marilyn Verredon introduces the concept of moral dilemma and its importance in decision-making.

The lesson aims to help students understand ethical rules and reasoning for making right decisions.

Students will develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills through the discussion and learning activities.

Upon completion, students will be able to explain the essential concept of a moral dilemma.

Students will write a reflective journal about their personal experience with a moral dilemma.

The lesson includes case studies to appreciate ethical principles concerning moral dilemmas.

A moral dilemma is a conflict of morals where one must choose between two or more options.

The case of Angela illustrates the conflict between moral integrity and life-saving decisions.

Karren Allen's three conditions for a situation to be considered an ethical dilemma are explained.

Types of moral dilemmas include epistemic, ontological, self-imposed, world-imposed, obligation, and prohibition dilemmas.

Epistemic dilemmas require fuller understanding before selecting the morally right action.

Ontological dilemmas involve conflicting moral obligations without disregarding each other.

Self-imposed dilemmas are created by the agent's own actions or promises.

World-imposed dilemmas arise from external events that place the agent in an ethical conflict.

Obligation dilemmas present situations where multiple actions are obligatory but only one can be chosen.

Prohibition dilemmas offer choices that are all morally wrong or reprehensible.

Single agent dilemmas involve acting on equally weighted ethical options without choosing both.

Multi-person dilemmas require consensus decisions from a group on a moral issue.

The GCQ lockdown example illustrates a multi-person dilemma involving community consensus.