Moral

Dilemma
 Moral Dilemma
➢ Commonly applied to any
di cult moral problem
➢ All of the issues discussed
therein are moral dilemmas 
➢ Moral philosophers count a
situation as a moral dilemma
only if one moral reason con icts
with another (moral or non-
moral) reason.
Example
?
Moral philosophers normally restrict the class of moral dilemmas further
to include only conflicts between one moral reason and another reason
that is also moral in nature.

In Plato’s example:

Moral reason is a moral requirement just in case it would be morally wrong

not to act on it without an adequate justification or excuse.
 Types of Moral Dilemma
Epistemic moral dilemmas involve situations wherein 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.

Ontological moral dilemmas involve situations wherein two or more

moral requirements conflict with each other, yet neither of these
conflicting moral requirements overrides each other.
 Types of Moral Dilemma
Self-imposed moral dilemma is caused by the moral agent’s
wrongdoings.

World-imposed moral dilemma means that certain events in the world

place the agent in a situation of moral conflict.

Obligation dilemmas are situations in which more than one feasible

action is obligatory.

Prohibition dilemmas involve cases in which all feasible actions are

forbidden.
 Types of Moral Dilemma
Single agent dilemma, the moral agent is compelled to act on two or
more equally the same moral options but she cannot choose both.

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 at hand.
Stages of Moral Development

Lawrence Kohlberg
(1927-1987)

• agreed with Piaget's (1932)

theory of moral development in
principle but wanted to develop
his ideas further.

• He used Piaget’s storytelling

technique to tell people stories
involving moral dilemmas.
 Stages of Moral Development
Stage 6
Stage 5
Universal
Stage 4 Principles
Social
Stage 3 of Ethics
Maintaining Contract
Stage 2 Good Inter- the Social and
personal Order Individual
Stage 1 Individualism Rights
Relation-
and Exchange
Obedience ships
and
Punishment
Orientation
Pre-conventional Level Conventional Level Post-conventional Level
 Pre-conventional Morality
Stage 1. Obedience and Punishment Orientation. The child/individual
is good in order to avoid being punished. If a person is punished, they
must have done wrong.

Stage 2. Individualism and Exchange. At this stage, children recognize

that there is not just one right view that is handed down by the
authorities. Different individuals have different viewpoints.
 Conventional Morality
Stage 3. Good Interpersonal Relationships. The child/individual is good
in order to be seen as being a good person by others. Therefore,
answers relate to the approval of others.

Stage 4. Maintaining the Social Order. The child/individual becomes

aware of the wider rules of society, so judgments concern obeying the
rules in order to uphold the law and to avoid guilt.
 Post-conventional Morality
Stage 5. Social Contract and Individual Rights. The child/individual
becomes aware that while rules/laws might exist for the good of the
greatest number, there are times when they will work against the
interest of particular individuals.

Stage 6. Universal Principles. People at this stage have developed

their own set of moral guidelines which may or may not fit the law. The
principles apply to everyone.