This document discusses different types of moral dilemmas. It defines a moral dilemma as a situation where a moral agent must choose between two or more conflicting options that are both morally unacceptable. It describes four main types of moral dilemmas: 1) epistemic and ontological dilemmas where the right choice is unclear or where moral requirements conflict equally; 2) self-imposed vs. world-imposed dilemmas caused by one's own actions or external events; 3) obligation vs. prohibition dilemmas involving choosing between two wrong options; and 4) single-agent vs. multi-person dilemmas that involve one or multiple moral agents. The document also discusses moral dilemmas at the systemic, organizational, and individual levels.

1. MORAL DILEMMAS
ETHICS (BSBA 1B)
LECTURE NO. 3

3. WHAT ARE MORAL DILEMMAS?
These are situations where persons, who
are called, “moral agents” in ethics, are
forced to choose between two or more
conflicting options, neither of which resolves
the situation in a morally acceptable manner.

4. TYPES OF MORAL
DILEMMAS

5. 1. EPISTEMIC AND ONTOLOGICAL
DILEMMAS
EPISTEMIC MORAL DILEMMA
There are two or more moral requirements that
conflict with each other. The moral agent hardly
knows which one takes precedence over the other.
One option must be better than the other; only it
needs fuller knowledge of the situation.

6. 1. EPISTEMIC AND ONTOLOGICAL
DILEMMAS
ONTOLOGICAL MORAL DILEMMA
There are two or more moral requirements that conflict
with each other, yet neither of these conflicting moral
requirements override each other. Neither of the moral
requirements is stronger than the other; hence, the moral
agent can hardly choose between the conflicting moral
requirements.

7. 2. SELF-IMPOSED AND WORLD-IMPOSED
DILEMMA
SELF-IMPOSED DILEMMA
A self-imposed dilemma is a situation that has
been caused by the individual’s mistakes or
misconduct. The moral dilemma is self-inflicted.
This can cause a number of complications when
attempting to make a decision.

8. 2. SELF-IMPOSED AND WORLD-IMPOSED
DILEMMA
WORLD-IMPOSED DILEMMA
A world-imposed dilemma is a situation where events
that we can’t control have created an unavoidable
moral conflict. An individual must resolve a moral
dilemma, even though the cause of it is beyond
his/her control. For example, this could be in times of
war or a financial crash.

9. 3. OBLIGATION DILEMMAS AND
PROHIBITION DILEMMAS
Prohibition dilemmas are the opposite of obligation
dilemmas. The choices that are offered to us are all,
on some level, morally reprehensible.
They can all be considered as wrong, but we must
choose one. They could be illegal, or just plain
immoral. An individual must choose between what
would normally be considered as prohibited.

10. 4. SINGLE-AGENT AND MULTI PERSON
DILEMMAS
SINGLE-AGENT MORAL DILEMMA
The agent “ought, all things considered, to do A,
ought all things considered, to do B, and she
cannot do both A and B”.

11. 4. SINGLE-AGENT AND MULTI PERSON
DILEMMAS
MULTI-PERSON MORAL DILEMMA
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”. It requires more than choosing what
is right; it also entails that the persons involved
reached a general consensus.

12. TYPES OF MORAL
DILEMMAS

13. A. SYSTEMIC (MACRO-LEVEL)
Ethical Standards are universal or general;
ethical standards apply to all who are within
the system (Example: R.A 6713 “Code of
Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public
Officials and Employees)

14. B. ORGANIZATIONAL (COMPANY LEVEL)
At a company or corporate level, ethical
standards are embedded in the policies and
procedures of the organization; ethical
standards apply to all those within the
organization (Example: code of Ethics for
Professional Teachers)

15. C. INDIVIDUAL (INDIVIDUAL LEVEL)
Ethical Standards of individuals; individuals
may well have a different set of ethical
standards from their employer (organization)
and this can lead to tensions.

16. ANY QUESTIONS?
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