Moral Delimmas and the 3 levels of Moral Delimmas

1. 3 LEVELS OF MORAL
DILEMMAS

2. ABOUT MORAL
DILEMMAS &
DILEMMA
Basically, the word ‘dilemma’ refers to a situation in which a tough
choice has to be made between two or more options, especially more
or less equally undesirable ones.
From this meaning or definition alone, we can see that not all
dilemmas are moral dilemmas.
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3. WHAT IS MORAL
DILEMMAS?
Many search for the keyword “What is moral dilemmas.” Also called
‘ethical dilemmas,’ moral dilemmas are situations in which a difficult
choice has to be made between two courses of action, either of which
entails transgressing a moral principle.
It is safe to say that at the very least, moral dilemmas involve conflicts
between moral requirements.
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4. MORAL
DILEMMA
EXAMPLES
In discussing moral dilemmas, the online Sandford Encyclopedia of
Philosophy gives this example from the Book I of Plato’s Republic:
“… Cephalus defines ‘justice’ as speaking the truth and paying one’s
debts. Socrates quickly refutes this account by suggesting that it
would be wrong to repay certain debts—for example, to return a
borrowed weapon to a friend who is not in his right mind.’
“Socrates’ point is not that repaying debts is without moral import;
rather, he wants to show that it is not always right to repay one’s
debts, at least not exactly when the one to whom the debt is owed
demands repayment.’
“What we have here is a conflict between two moral norms: repaying
one’s debts and protecting others from harm…” (“Moral Dilemmas,”
n.d.)
Notice that what is common to moral dilemmas is conflict. In each
ethical dilemma, an agent regards himself as having moral reasons to
do each of two actions, but doing both actions seems to be ethically
not possible.
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5. THE THREE LEVELS OF MORAL
DILEMMAS
A. PERSONAL
DILEMMAS
B.
ORGANIZATIO
NAL
DILEMMAS
C.
STRUCTURAL
DILEMMAS
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6. PERSONAL DILEMMAS
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Simply put, these personal dilemmas are those experienced and resolved on the personal level. Since many
ethical decisions are personally made, many, if not most of, moral dilemmas fall under, or boil down to, this level.
French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre gave an example or a case that could eSimply put, these personal
dilemmas are those experienced and resolved on the personal level. Since many ethical decisions are personally
made, many, if not most of, moral dilemmas fall under, or boil down to, this level.
French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre gave an example or a case that could exemplify a personal moral dilemma:
“Sartre tells of a student whose brother had been killed in the German offensive of 1940. The student wanted to
avenge his brother and to fight forces that he regarded as evil. But the student’s mother was living with him, and
he was her one consolation in life.’
“The student believed that he had conflicting obligations. Sartre describes him as being torn between two kinds
of morality: one of limited scope but certain efficacy, personal devotion to his mother; the other of much wider
scope but uncertain efficacy, attempting to contribute to the defeat of an unjust aggressor.” (“Moral Dilemmas,”
n.d.)
We can give many other examples of personal moral dilemmas. If someone makes conflicting promises, he faces
a moral conflict. When an individual has to choose between the life of a child who is about to be delivered and
the child’s mother, he faces an ethical dilemma.
off much wider scope but uncertain efficacy, attempting to contribute to the defeat of an unjust aggressor.”
(“Moral Dilemmas,” n.d.)

7. ORGANIZATIONAL
DILEMMAS
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Basically, ethical cases encountered and resolved by social organizations are organizational moral dilemmas.
This category includes moral dilemmas in business, medical field, and public sector.
For example, a hospital that believes that human life should not be deliberately shortened and that
unpreventable pain should not be tolerated encounters a conflict in resolving whether to withdraw life support
from a dying patient. This is a common moral dilemma faced by healthcare organizations and medical
institutions.
Moral dilemmas also arise in professional work. Administrative bodies in business are confronted with situations
in which several courses of action are possible but none of them provide a totally successful outcome to those
affected by the decision or actions taken.
These moral dilemmas in business involve issues about corporate practices, policies, business behaviors, and
the conducts and relationships of individuals in the organizations. Other business-related dilemmas pertain to
the social responsibility of businesses, employee rights, harassment, labor unions, misleading advertising, job
discrimination, and whistle blowing.

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On the part of public sector, government leaders and employees have a moral duty to act in a manner that is fair
and unbiased. They should be loyal to the public and ought to put public interest before personal gain, and fulfill
duties of competency, integrity, accountability, and transparency.
Having said that, public officials nonetheless may encounter foreseeable moral dilemmas in fulfilling these
ideals. So ethical or moral dilemmas which arise include the following examples:
-whether or not to favor family, friends, or campaign contributors over other constituents;
-favoring the agenda of one’s political party over a policy one believes to be good for the community;
– dealing with conflicting public duties inherent in serving both as a council member and as a member of an
agency or commission;
– resigning from organizations in which membership may give rise to future conflicts;
– becoming whistle blower even if it means potentially derailing a policy objective one is pursuing; and,
– accepting gifts if it is legally permitted but creates the appearance of impropriety.

9. STRUCTURAL
DILEMMAS
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These structural moral dilemmas pertain to cases involving network of institutions and operative theoretical
paradigms. As they usually encompass multi-sectoral institutions and organizations, they may be larger in scope
and extent than organizational dilemmas.
An example is the prices of medicine in the Philippines which are higher compared to other countries in Asia and in
countries of similar economic status. Factors affecting medicine prices include the cost of research, presence of
competition in the market, government regulations, and patent protection.
The institutions concerned may want to lower the costs of medicine, thereby benefiting the Filipino public, but such
a move may ruin the interests or legal rights of the involved researchers, inventors or discoverers, and
pharmaceutical companies which own the patent of the medicines or healthcare technologies.
An example of dilemma which is also structural in nature is that of Universal Health Care (UHC). Locally applied, it
is called “Kalusugan Pangkalahatan” (KP). It is the provision to every Filipino of the highest possible quality of
health care that is accessible, efficient, equitably distributed, adequately funded, fairly financed, and appropriately
used by an informed and empowered public.
“Kalusugan Pangkalahatan” (KP), as a government mandate, aims to ensure that every Filipino shall receive
affordable and quality health benefits by (ideally) providing adequate resources – health human resources, health
facilities, and health financing.

10. Nonetheless, health financing is first and foremost a big issue here. Government could set aside bigger budget for health for the
implementation of this provision. But then, this would mean cutting down allocations on other sectors (such as education or public
works.).