Ethics - Moral Dilemma

Summary

Dr. 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.