INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION, ARTS AND SCIENCES

Module 2 – Ethics
Moral Dilemma

Introduction

This module tackles the moral dilemmas that students will experience. Hence, they need to
understand the concept and be able to overcome it if such a situation arises. The students will share
any moral experience and try to detect some moral dilemmas through scenarios that will be
presented. During the reading of this module, the students should be able to attain the following:

Learning Outcomes

1. Recognize and recall a moral experience;

2. Detect a moral dilemma; and
3. Identify the three levels of moral dilemmas.

I. Defining Morality and Dilemma

Morality has no single definition that applies to all moral discussions. Rawl (2009) defines
morality as a general concept of justice. His terminology suggests a psychological distinction;
however, he also suggests that many people have different concepts of justice. Morality is used in
two broad senses.

1. Descriptive Sense – the codes of conduct imposed by a society or a group (such as a

religion). It is also individually accepted by a person as his or her
behavior.

2. Normative Sense - the code of conduct that is put forward by rational persons in given
specified conditions or situations.

Dilemma in Meriam-Webster is defined as usually an undesirable or unpleasant choice,

usually when you are presented with two or more equally conclusive alternatives, especially during
during an argument. Some authors identify various dilemmas by they seldom discuss how to solve
them (Sletteboe, 1997). In this module, we shall focus on discussing moral dilemmas.

Moral Dilemma

In an article written by Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (2018), an individual who

conflicts or in a decision-making problem who must choose between two or more actions that have
moral reasons for choosing such is referred to as Moral Dilemma.
In the concept of ethics, a person who has to deal with moral dilemmas is considered as a moral
agent. The latter must decide on which course of action is best. There must be different choices to
be made, and no matter what decided upon, some moral principles are always compromised to say
that there is a moral dilemma in a situation

Salient Features of Moral Dilemma

a. the agent is required to do each of two (or more) actions;

• This action would lead to both options (actions) being compromised, and the agent is
required to create a decision that would weigh both options and create and find a
middle ground between the actions.

b. The agent can do each of the actions, but the agent cannot do both (or all).
• It is focused on how we have specific options and actions. Still, we can’t do both since
its both contradictory, or the other option is not morally right, giving us the freedom
only to choose one (the best) of the options (actions) given.

c. The agent 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).
• It states that no matter what an agent would do, his action would lead to failure, and
he would be a source of moral failure.

Types of Moral Dilemma

This situation involves two or more moral requirements that conflict

with each other. The agent hardly knows which of the conflicting moral
requirements takes precedence over the other. He or she is not aware of
which option is morally right or wrong, and duties are conflicting in the
situation. Hence, the agent ought to analyze the situation that one option
Epistemic Moral
must be better than the other.
Dilemma

Ex. A mother promised her son to be home early, but there’s an urgent
situation – a sick older adult who needs to be brought to the hospital.

It involves two or more conflicting mora requirements. Neither of

those conflicting moral requirements overrides each other nor stronger
than the other. The mora agent can hardly choose between the conflicting
Ontological moral requirements.
Moral Dilemma
Ex. A military doctor is attending to the medical aid of the wounded
soldiers in the middle of the war. Two soldiers urgently need a blood
transfusion, but only one bag of blood is available at the moment.
It is a dilemma caused by the agent’s mistake.
Self-imposed
Moral Dilemma Ex. A candidate is running for the position of mayor. He promised the
citizens to protect the forest surrounding the city to gain votes. But he
 seeks financial support from a mining company. After the elections,
he won the position, and at the same time, the mining company
allowed to perform the mining operation in the vicinity.
This situation places the agent in moral conflict due to certain events
in the world place.

World-imposed Ex. The problem of world hunger is a world-imposed moral dilemma that
Moral Dilemma can be solved. Still, the government and other agencies fail to address
to, we are thrown into the world, as a source of the answer to that
solution, we are imposed, or we are tasked to address that problem
and solve it.
It is a situation in which more than one possible action is obligatory.
Obligation Moral
Ex. In the situation in a war-torn country, young children are forced to join
Dilemma
the ranks as soldiers for the war due to lack of armed forces in the
country.
It involves cases in which all possible actions are prohibited.

Prohibition Ex. Suppose that a person promised her friend to chat with her at precisely
Moral Dilemma 3 p.m. Due to a lapse in memory, she promised another person to chat
with him at the same time. No matter what she will do, she will fail to
satisfy the dictates of morality.
It is a situation where an agent is compelled to act on two or more
equally the same moral options. However, he cannot choose both.

Single agent Ex. A medical doctor found out that her patient has HIV. The medical
Moral Dilemma doctor may experience tension between the legal requirement to report
the case and the desire to respect confidentiality. However, the
medical code of ethics acknowledges our obligation to follow legal
requirements and to intervene to protect the vulnerable.

It occurs in situations that involve several persons like a family, an

organization, or a community that is expected to come up with a
consensual decision on a moral issue at hand. It also requires more than
choosing what is right. It also entails that the persons involved reached a
Multi-person
consensus. The moral obligation to do what is right becomes more
Moral Dilemma
complicated.

Ex. An organization may have to choose between complying with the

wage law by cutting its workforce or by retaining its current
workforce by paying them below the required minimum wage.

Three Levels of Moral Dilemmas

The ethical standards of an organization have a significant influence on how it performs its
functions. A positive approach may be employed to maintain ethical standards in an organization.
It can result in positive outcomes in an organization. However, moral and ethical shortcomings
also exist even in the most successful organizations. These can be classified at three levels:
1. Individual - organizations and businesses are run by people. Therefore, the ethical standards of
these individuals are an essential consideration. One is individuals can have a different set of
ethical standards. It can result in tensions putting them in a situation called a moral dilemma.
Another is, factors such as peer pressure, personal financial position, and socio-economic status
may influence an individual’s ethical standards.

2. Organizationn - in a firm, corporation, or organizational level, ethical standards are embedded

in the policies and procedures of the organization. It forms an important foundation on which
the organization is built. A gap between the company/organization policy and those leaders who
are running it on ethical standards may arise. This situation can present an ethical challenge for
some employees.

3. Structural – factors such as political pressures, economic conditions, societal attitudes to

specific businesses, and even business regulation can influence a system’s operating standards
and policies. Leaders must be aware of how these pressure affect operations, relationships, and
how they may impact people locally, nationally, or internationally.

Activity 1. Reflection:

Write your answer in a separate clean sheet of paper, whether digitally or handwritten.

1. Cite an experience where you were subjected to a moral dilemma.

2. What course of action did you take to overcome the situation?
3. Would you make the same decision if you would experience the same situation?

Rubric Writing
1 4 5
3
Criteria Does Not Meet
Does Not Fully Meet
Meets Meets Exceeds
Writing is confident
Writing is limited in Writing does not
and clearly focused. It
communicating clearly communicate Writes related, quality
holds the reader’s
CONTENT/IDEAS knowledge. Length is knowledge. The paragraphs, with little
attention.
not adequate for reader is left with or no details.
Relevant details
development. questions.
enrich writing.
Writing is confused
Writing includes a
Writing is brief and and loosely
Uses correct writing strong, beginning,
underdeveloped with organized.
ORGANIZATION format. Incorporates a middle, and end with
very weak transitions Transitions are weak
coherent closure. clear transitions and a
and closure. and closure is
focused closure.
ineffective.
Uses a variety of
Effective and
VOCABULARY/ Language is trite, Shows some use of word choice to make
engaging use of word
WORD CHOICE vague or flat. varied word choice. writing
choice.
interesting.
Writer uses
Writes with a distinct,
Writer’s voice/ point voice/point of view.
Writer’s voice/ point unique voice/point of
of view shows that Writes with the
VOICE of view shows little view. Writing is
sense of audience is understanding of a
sense of audience. skillfully adapted
vague. specific
to the audience.
audience.
 Many run-ons or Some run-ons or
Uses simple Consistent variety of
SENTENCE fragments. Little fragments.
compound, and sentence structure
FLUENCY variety in sentence Limited variety in
complex, sentences. throughout.
structure. sentence structure.

Uses consistent
Inconsistent Occasional errors Maintains agreement
agreement between
agreement between between parts of between parts of
parts of speech. No
parts of speech. Many speech. Some errors speech. Few errors in
CONVENTIONS errors in mechanics.
errors in mechanics. in mechanics. Some mechanics. Applies
Creative and effective
Limited evidence of evidence of spelling basic grade level
use of spelling
spelling strategies. strategies. spelling.
strategies.

Adapted from: National Council of Teachers of Teachers (NCTE) 2004)

Activity 2. Cite your examples of the Types of Moral Dilemmas. You may write your answers in
a separate sheet of paper, whether digitally or handwritten.

1. Epistemic
2. Ontological
3. Self-imposed
4. World-imposed
5. Obligation
6. Prohibition
7. Single-agent
8. Multi-person

Activity 3. Infographic: Summarize this module using an infographic. You may create your
design on a separate sheet of paper, whether digitally or handwritten.
 Infographic Rubric 4 3 2 1
Design ❖ Layout is ❖ Generally good ❖ Layout could use ❖ Layout is
organized and layout improvement disorganized, no
❖ Layout uses consistent ❖ Has minor ❖ Two or more obvious
❖ Color Scheme style inconsistency or inconsistent organization
❖ Fonts ❖ Color scheme has one distracting elements ❖ Layout distracts
visual appeal and element ❖ Hard to read fonts from content
works with ❖ Color scheme ❖ Layout distracts ❖ Color scheme is
content clashes from content confusing
❖ Fonts are legible
and consistent
Content ❖ Appropriate ❖ One or two terms ❖ Not enough ❖ Lacking in
terms, vocab, or jargon used terms, vocab, appropriate
❖ Terms, Facts jargon defined incorrectly or jargon terminology
❖ Quantity of data and used without explanation ❖ Data is sparse ❖ Not enough facts
❖ Quality of data ❖ More than ❖ Adequate amount ❖ Data might not or data
enough data to of data not demonstrate ❖ Data is from poor
make claims ❖ Data demonstrate the trend or claim or questionable
❖ Data clearly trend, claim, etc ❖ Data from good source
demonstrate ❖ Data from good source
trend, claim, etc source
❖ Data from good
source
Clarity ❖ Claim, main idea ❖ Claim, main idea is ❖ Claim, main idea ❖ Infographic
is obvious and understandable is made makes a poor
❖ Makes a claim easy to ❖ No unnecessary ❖ Some graphics or initial impression
❖ Efficiency understand graphics or visuals visuals are ❖ Confusing
❖ Makes clear ❖ No unnecessary unneeded
impression graphics or
visuals
❖ Infographic
makes a good
initial impression
Representation ❖ Design elements ❖ Design elements ❖ Visualizations fit ❖ Design and
are clearly are clearly the data and the visuals are at
❖ Design informed by informed by claim odds with the
complements content content content or claims
content ❖ Visuals show ❖ Visualizations fit being made
❖ Careful choice connection to the data and the
of visuals content and create claim
❖ Data a visual flow
visualization ❖ Visualizations fit
matches content the data and the
and claim claim

Adopted from: White 2016 General Infographic Rubric

Prepared:

ADRIAN P. TAMAYO, MAEd

Instructor
Reference(s):

Belen, D. R. O. (2018). Three Levels of Moral Dilemma. Bicol, Bicol University.

Gert, B., & Gert, J. (2016, February 8). The Definition of Morality.
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/morality-definition/.

McConnell, T. (2018, June 16). Moral Dilemmas. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/moral-dilemmas/.

Merriam-Webster. Dilemma. Merriam-Webster. https://www.merriam-

webster.com/dictionary/dilemma.

National Council of Teachers of English. 2004. “Writing Rubric, Read.Think.Write.” 2004.

https://www.ramapo.edu/fa/files/2013/04/Writing-Rubric-3.pdf

Rawls, J. (2009). A theory of justice. Harvard university press p. 9.

Sletteboe, A. (1997). Dilemma: a concept analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 26(3), 449-
454.

White, J. 2016. “General Infographic Rubric.” Stem Literacy through Infographics.” National
Science Foundation. 2016. http://science-infographics.org/general-infographic-rubric/.

Suggested/Further Readings

Ethics. Reference for Business. https://www.referenceforbusiness.com/management/Em-

Exp/Ethics.html.

Gert, B., & Gert, J. (2016, February 8). The Definition of Morality.
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/morality-definition/.

McConnell, T. (2018, June 16). Moral Dilemmas. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/moral-dilemmas/.

Sletteboe, A. (1997). Dilemma: a concept analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 26(3), 449-
454.