What Are Moral Dilemmas?

Summary

This whiteboard discussion delves into the complexities of moral dilemmas, defining them as situations where individuals must choose between conflicting options with no acceptable outcome. It explores the nature of ethical dilemmas, using the example of Lindsay's ectopic pregnancy, and outlines conditions for moral dilemmas as per Karen Allen. The video categorizes moral dilemmas into epistemic and ontological, self-imposed and world-imposed, obligation and prohibition, and single agent and multi-person dilemmas, illustrating each with examples. It concludes by emphasizing the challenge of finding consensus in multi-person moral dilemmas.

Takeaways

• 😖 A moral dilemma is a situation where one must choose between two or more conflicting options, none of which are morally acceptable.
• 🔍 The term 'dilemma' applies only when there is a forced choice between options, not merely a difficult situation.
• 🤔 Ethical or moral dilemmas involve moral agents who face conflicts between options that have no morally perfect resolution.
• 💡 Karen Allen's conditions for moral dilemmas include the obligation to make a decision, multiple conflicting options, and the compromise of moral principles regardless of the choice made.
• 🚫 In moral dilemmas, according to Benjamin Lemma Steen, one is destined to commit a moral wrong due to the inherent conflict of options.
• 📚 Types of moral dilemmas include epistemic and ontological, self-imposed and world-imposed, obligation and prohibition, and single agent and multi-person dilemmas.
• 🤝 Epistemic dilemmas involve uncertainty about which moral requirement takes precedence, while ontological dilemmas present conflicts with no clear overriding moral requirement.
• 🌐 Self-imposed dilemmas arise from personal actions creating a conflict of obligations, whereas world-imposed dilemmas are caused by external events forcing moral conflict.
• 🏥 Examples like the military doctor with limited resources illustrate ontological dilemmas, where neither option is morally superior.
• 🏛️ The story of Sophie's Choice exemplifies a world-imposed prohibition dilemma, where all options lead to a moral compromise.
• 👥 Multi-person dilemmas add complexity by involving multiple agents with potentially conflicting moral obligations, requiring consensus.

Q & A

What is a dilemma in the context of the script?

A dilemma is a situation where a person is forced to choose between two or more conflicting options, none of which are acceptable, and all choices have unwanted results.

What is the key characteristic of a moral dilemma?

A moral dilemma is characterized by the presence of conflicting options that a moral agent must choose between, with neither option resolving the situation in a morally acceptable manner.

Can a problematic situation without forced choices be considered a dilemma?

No, a situation is only considered a dilemma if there are forced choices between two or more options.

What is the example of a moral dilemma involving Lindsay and her ectopic pregnancy?

Lindsay faces a moral dilemma where she must choose between aborting the fetus to save her own life, which compromises her moral integrity, or not aborting and risking both her life and the fetus's life.

According to Karen Allen, what are the three conditions for a situation to be a moral dilemma?

The three conditions are: 1) The moral agent is obliged to make a decision, 2) There must be different courses of action to choose from, and 3) No matter what action is taken, some moral principles are always compromised.

What does Benjamin Lemma Steen suggest about moral dilemmas?

Benjamin Lemma Steen suggests that in moral dilemmas, the moral agent seems fated to commit something wrong, implying that they are bound to morally fail due to the nature of the conflicting choices.

What are the main categories of moral dilemmas mentioned in the script?

The main categories are epistemic and ontological dilemmas, self-imposed and world-imposed dilemmas, obligation and prohibition dilemmas, and single agent and multi-person dilemmas.

What is an epistemic moral dilemma?

An epistemic moral dilemma involves situations where two or more moral requirements conflict, and the moral agent hardly knows which requirement takes precedence, due to a lack of fuller knowledge of the situation.

What is the difference between self-imposed and world-imposed moral dilemmas?

A self-imposed moral dilemma is caused by the moral agent's own wrongdoings, whereas a world-imposed moral dilemma arises from external events that place the agent in a situation of moral conflict.

Can you provide an example of an obligation dilemma from the script?

An example of an obligation dilemma is the French student who had to choose between staying in France to care for his mother and leaving to fight with the Free French against the German occupation, as both actions were seen as obligatory.

What is a multi-person dilemma and how does it differ from a single agent dilemma?

A multi-person dilemma involves a situation where multiple agents each have their own moral obligations that cannot all be fulfilled simultaneously, requiring a consensual decision. It differs from a single agent dilemma, which involves one agent choosing between conflicting moral options.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 Introduction to Moral Dilemmas

The script begins by defining a dilemma as a situation where one must choose between conflicting options, none of which are acceptable. It distinguishes dilemmas from mere problems by the presence of forced choices leading to undesirable outcomes. The concept of moral dilemmas is introduced as scenarios where moral agents face choices that conflict with moral principles, using the example of Lindsay's ectopic pregnancy to illustrate the conflict between saving her life and upholding her religious beliefs against abortion. The script further explains that moral dilemmas arise when moral principles are compromised no matter the decision made, implying an inevitable moral failure.

05:04

📚 Types of Moral Dilemmas

This paragraph delves into the categorization of moral dilemmas, identifying four main types: epistemic and ontological, self-imposed and world-imposed, obligation, and prohibition dilemmas. Epistemic dilemmas involve uncertainty about which moral requirement takes precedence, while ontological dilemmas present conflicts with no clear moral hierarchy. Self-imposed dilemmas stem from the agent's actions, exemplified by a mayor's promise to protect forests while seeking financial support from a mining corporation. World-imposed dilemmas are external situations that force moral conflict, such as Sophie's Choice, where a mother must choose which child to save from death. The paragraph also briefly touches on obligation and prohibition dilemmas, setting the stage for further exploration of these concepts.

10:05

🎯 Examples and Implications of Moral Dilemmas

The final paragraph provides examples to illustrate the different types of moral dilemmas discussed. It presents the archery student's story to demonstrate an obligation dilemma, where the student must choose between family loyalty and national duty, highlighting the absence of a clear moral code to guide decisions. The Sophie's Choice example is revisited to represent a prohibition dilemma, where all options are morally unacceptable. The paragraph also introduces single-agent and multi-person dilemmas, explaining the unique challenges they present, such as the tension between legal requirements and professional ethics in a doctor's duty to report HIV cases. The script concludes by emphasizing the complexity of moral dilemmas, which often require consensus in multi-person scenarios and the balancing of moral integrity with organizational stability.

Keywords

💡Dilemma

A dilemma is a situation where an individual is confronted with two or more conflicting options, none of which are considered acceptable. In the context of the video, it is central to understanding moral dilemmas, as it sets the stage for the ethical conflicts discussed. For example, the script describes a town mayor's dilemma between preserving a forest and allowing economic development.

💡Moral Dilemmas

Moral dilemmas are a subset of dilemmas that involve making choices with significant ethical implications. The video defines them as situations where moral agents must choose between conflicting options without a morally acceptable resolution. The ectopic pregnancy example illustrates a moral dilemma where Lindsay must decide between her life and the life of her unborn child.

💡Moral Agents

Moral agents are individuals who are capable of making moral judgments and are responsible for their actions. The script uses this term to describe the people who find themselves in moral dilemmas, such as Lindsay in the ectopic pregnancy scenario, emphasizing their role in ethical decision-making.

💡Ethical Principles

Ethical principles are fundamental moral values or standards that guide behavior. The video mentions that in moral dilemmas, no matter the choice made, some ethical principles are always compromised, highlighting the complexity of moral decision-making.

💡Epistemic Dilemmas

Epistemic dilemmas occur when there is a conflict between moral requirements and the moral agent lacks sufficient knowledge to determine which is the right course of action. The script gives an example of a person needing to decide between honoring a promise to their son and helping a sick old man, illustrating the uncertainty in such dilemmas.

💡Ontological Dilemmas

Ontological dilemmas are situations where multiple moral requirements conflict, but none of them is inherently stronger than the others. The video uses the example of a military doctor with only one bag of blood for two wounded soldiers to demonstrate the difficulty of choosing between equally valid moral claims.

💡Self-Imposed Dilemmas

Self-imposed dilemmas arise from the moral agent's own actions or decisions. The script describes a scenario where a town mayor, having made promises to indigenous peoples and seeking support from a mining corporation, finds himself in a dilemma of his own making, unable to fulfill both obligations.

💡World-Imposed Dilemmas

World-imposed dilemmas are those where external events or circumstances place the moral agent in a situation of moral conflict. The video cites 'Sophie's Choice' as a classic example, where Sophie is forced to choose which of her children will be sent to the gas chamber, a moral conflict imposed by the world's circumstances.

💡Obligation Dilemmas

Obligation dilemmas involve situations where multiple actions are all considered obligatory, making it difficult to determine the best course of action. The script refers to a story about a French student who must choose between caring for his mother and avenging his brother's death, both of which are seen as obligations.

💡Prohibition Dilemmas

Prohibition dilemmas are characterized by situations where all feasible actions are considered morally forbidden. The video uses the example of 'Sophie's Choice' again, where all options lead to the death of a child, illustrating the impossibility of choosing a morally permissible action.

💡Single Agent and Multi-Person Dilemmas

Single agent dilemmas involve one moral agent who must choose between two incompatible moral options, while multi-person dilemmas involve multiple agents, each with their own obligations that cannot all be fulfilled simultaneously. The video discusses a medical doctor's tension between reporting a patient's HIV status and maintaining confidentiality, and a family's decision about a family member's life, as examples of these dilemmas.

Highlights

Moral dilemmas are situations where a person must choose between conflicting options, none of which are morally acceptable.

A dilemma is defined as a situation with choices that all lead to undesired outcomes.

Ethical or moral dilemmas involve moral agents forced to choose between conflicting options without a morally acceptable resolution.

An example of a moral dilemma is Lindsay's ectopic pregnancy, where saving her life may compromise her moral integrity.

According to Karen Allen, moral dilemmas have three conditions: obligation to decide, multiple conflicting options, and inevitable compromise of moral principles.

Benjamin Lemma Steen suggests that in moral dilemmas, moral agents are destined to commit something wrong, implying moral failure.

Moral dilemmas are categorized into epistemic and ontological, self-imposed and world-imposed, obligation and prohibition, and single agent and multi-person dilemmas.

Epistemic moral dilemmas involve uncertainty about which moral requirement takes precedence.

Ontological moral dilemmas occur when conflicting moral requirements are equally strong with no clear override.

Self-imposed moral dilemmas arise from the moral agent's own actions, creating a conflict between obligations.

World-imposed moral dilemmas are caused by external events that force the moral agent into a situation of moral conflict.

Obligation dilemmas present situations where more than one action is obligatory, while prohibition dilemmas involve all actions being forbidden.

The story of the archery student illustrates the limits of moral decision-making based on a defined moral code.

Sophie's Choice is an example of a prohibition dilemma, where all options lead to a tragic outcome.

In single agent dilemmas, the moral agent must choose between equally moral options, unable to fulfill both.

Multi-person dilemmas involve multiple agents with conflicting moral obligations, requiring a consensual decision.

Moral dilemmas require not only choosing what is right but also maintaining the integrity of the decision and preventing disintegration of the group.

Transcripts

hello Fela notes friends welcome back

for another whiteboard discussion that

is intended to help you in understanding

the key concepts in philosophy in an

incredibly easy way and so today we will

address an important question in ethics

what are moral dilemmas first of all let

us define the term dilemma before we

discuss the nature and dynamics of moral

dilemmas a dilemma is a situation where

a person is forced to choose between two

or more conflicting options neither of

which is acceptable as we can see the

key here is that the person has choices

to make that will all have results she

does not want for example a town mayor

faces a dilemma about how to protect and

preserve a virgin forest and at the same

time allow miners and loggers for

economic development in the town it must

be noted however that if a person is in

a difficult situation but is not forced

to choose between two or more options

then that person is not in a dilemma the

least that we can say is that that

person is just experiencing a

problematic or distressful situation

this is the most logical thing to do for

that person is to look for alternatives

or solutions to address the problem when

dilemmas involve human actions which

have moral implications they are called

ethical or moral dilemmas moral dilemmas

therefore our situations where persons

who are called moral agents and ethics

are forced to choose between two or more

conflicting options but neither of which

resolves the situation in a morally

acceptable manner let's consider this

scenario as an example Lindsay is a

deeply religious person hence she

considers killing humans absolutely

wrong

unfortunately it is found out that

Lindsay is having an ectopic pregnancy

as is well-known an ectopic pregnancy is

a type of pregnancy that occurs outside

the uterus most commonly in the

fallopian tubes in other words in a

topic pregnancy the fetus does not

develop in the uterus now if this

happens the development of the fetus

will definitely endanger the mother thus

if Lindsay continues with her pregnancy

then there is a big possibility that she

will die according to experts the best

way to save Lindsay's life is to abort

the fetus which necessarily implies

killing the fetus if we do not abort the

fetus than Lindsey as well as the fetus

will die in this example of a moral

dilemma

Lindsey is faced with two conflicting

options namely either she resorts to

abortion which will save her life but at

the same time jeopardizes her moral

integrity or does not resort to abortion

but in dangers her life as well as the

fetus indeed Lindsey is faced through

the huge moral dilemma according to

Karen Allen there are three conditions

that must be present for situations to

be considered moral dilemmas first the

person or the agent of a moral action is

obliged to make a decision about which

course of action is best here the moral

agent must choose the best option and

act accordingly in lines' case she may

opt to abort the fetus is the best

course of action second there must be

different courses of action to choose

from hen's has already pointed out there

must be two or more conflicting options

to choose from for moral dilemmas to

occur and third no matter what course of

action is taken some moral principles

are always compromised this means that

according to Allen there is no

perfect solution to the problem and for

this reason according to Benjamin lemma

Steen in moral dilemmas the moral agent

seems fated to commit something wrong

which implies that she is bound to

morally fail because in one way or

another she will fail to do something

which she ought to do in other words by

choosing one of the possible moral

requirements the person also fails on

others now let's proceed to the

different types of moral dilemmas there

are several types of moral dilemmas but

the most common of them are categorized

into the following first epistemic and

ontological dilemmas second self imposed

and world imposed dilemmas third

obligation dilemmas in prohibition

dilemmas and fourth single agent and

multi person dilemmas epistemic moral

dilemmas involve situations where in two

or more moral requirements conflict with

each other and that the moral agent

hardly knows which of the conflicting

moral requirements takes precedence over

the other in other words the moral agent

here does not know which option is

morally right or wrong for instance I

ought to honour my promise to my son to

be home early but in my way home I saw a

sick old man who needs to be brought to

the hospital where does my actual Judy

lie we cannot deny that they are

conflicting Jews here but we need to

note that we want a fuller knowledge of

the situation is an important purpose

being served by me getting home early

how serious is the condition of the sick

old man indeed I could hardly decide

which option is morally right in this

situation however one option must be

better than the other

only it needs fuller knowledge of the

situation that's the term epistemic

moral dilemmas ontological moral

dilemmas on the other hand involve

situations where in two or more moral

requirements conflict with each other

yet neither of these conflicting moral

requirements overrides each other this

is not to say that the moral agent

doesn't know which moral requirement is

stronger than the other the point is

that neither of the moral requirements

is stronger than the other

hence the moral agent can hardly choose

between the conflicting moral

requirements for instance a military

doctor is attending to the needs of the

wounded soldiers in the middle of the

war unfortunately two soldiers urgently

need a blood transfusion however only

one bag of blood is available at the

moment to whom shall the doctor

administer the blood transfusion for

sure we could not tell whether

administering a blood transfusion to

soldier a is more moral than

administering a blood transfusion to

soldier B and vice versa now let's

proceed to the second category of moral

dilemmas that is self-imposed moral

dilemma and world imposed moral dilemmas

a self-imposed moral dilemma is caused

by the moral agents wrongdoings for

example David is running for the

position of town mayor during the

campaign period he promised the

indigenous peoples in his community to

protect their virgin forests just to

gain their votes but at the same time he

seeks financial support from a mining

corporation fortunately David won the

elections yet he is faced with the

dilemma of fulfilling his promise to the

indigenous peoples and at the same time

allows the mining corporation to destroy

their forests indeed through his own

actions

David created a situation in which

is impossible for him to be discharged

from both obligations a world imposed

moral dilemma on the other hand means

that certain events in the world plays

the agent in a situation of moral

conflict William Styron's famous

Sophie's Choice is a classic example

so feats of its obscure has been asked

to choose which of her two children Ava

or Yan will be sent to the gas chamber

in Auschwitz an SS doctor fritzy Amman

Fon niemand will grant a dispensation to

only one of Sophie's children if she

does not choose which one should live

dr. Fon neimand will send it both to

their death so if he chooses her

daughter Eva to go to the gas chamber

her son Yan is sent to the children's

camp now on the third category of moral

dilemmas we have obligation dilemmas and

prohibition dilemmas obligation dilemmas

are situations in which more than one

feasible action is obligatory while

prohibition dilemmas involved cases in

which all feasible actions are forbidden

the famous archery student is a classic

example of obligation dilemma

it reads Sartre uses the anecdote of a

former students moral dilemma during the

World War two to illustrate both the

limits of making decisions based on a

defined moral code in the erroneous

nosov blaming passions for people's

actions the French students brother was

killed in 1940 by the Germans but his

father nonetheless later abandoned the

family to collaborate with the Germans

the student had to choose between

staying in France with his mother who

found her only comfort in him and

leaving to fight to the Free French

against the German occupation after

realizing he was caught between moral

principles or family and nation for the

obligation to care for his mother and

the obligation to avenge his brother's

death he came to

for advice the philosopher told his

student that there was no correct or

incorrect decision neither moral codes

nor the strength of his affections for

one or the other party can determine

what to do rather the student had to

invent his own solution to the problem

on the other hand the famous Sophie's

Choice mentioned earlier is a classic

example of prohibition dilemmas finally

in single agent dilemma the agent ought

all things considered to do a ought all

things considered to do be and she

cannot do both a and B in other words

the moral agent is compelled to act in

two or more equally the same moral

options but she cannot choose both for

instance a medical doctor found out that

her patient has HIV for sure the medical

doctor may experience tension between

the legal requirement to report the case

and the desire to respect

confidentiality although the medical

code of ethics technologists are

obligation to follow legal requirements

and to intervene to protect the

vulnerable in multi-person dilemma on

the other hand the situation is such

that 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 according to Benjamin lemma

Steen the multi-person does not in as

much as agents XY and Z may possibly

have chosen conflicting moral choices

that is person X chooses a instead of B

and C and person Y chooses B instead of

a E and C and so on and so forth the

multi person dilemma occurs in

situations that involve several persons

like a family an organization or a

community who is expected to come up

with consensual decision on a moral

issue attend a family may be torn

between choosing to terminate or prolong

the life of a family member an

organization may have to choose between

complying with a wage law by cutting its

workforce or by retaining its current

workforce by paying them below the

required minimum wage the multi-person

dilemma requires more than choosing what

is right it also entails that the

persons involved reached a general

consensus in such a manner the moral

obligation to do what is right becomes

more complicated in the multi-person

dilemma on the one hand the integrity of

the decision ought to be defended on

moral grounds on the other hand the

decision must also prevent the

organization from breaking apart that

answer

discussion on moral dilemmas and thank

you for visiting us today for another

whiteboard edition here at field notes

full transcript of this video is

available at fili notes calm and to keep

you updated of our newest videos simply

click here to subscribe and tap the bell

for notifications thanks take care