CONFLICTS & ETHICAL DILEMMAS- MORAL & ETHICAL DILEMMAS

Definition of dilemmas The presentation deals with dilemmas that a person / institution face. It is derived from a Greek word means two horns. The horns of the dilemma only two choices: is or is not, to be or not to be, true or false. Indeed, only one choice can be made, to find the way between the horns of the dilemma. The crucial features of a moral dilemma are these: the agent is required to do each of two (or more) actions; the agent can do each of the actions; but the agent cannot do both (or all) of the actions. 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). Distinction between ethics and dilemmas Ethics typically involves trying to make difficult choices under less than ideal conditions. Our purpose will be to clarify what qualifies as a problem, as opposed to a dilemma, as well as why this distinction matters. A dilemma involves choosing between two equally unattractive options. The key feature of a dilemma is that it describes a scenario where no matter what we choose to do, we are acting immorally. Various types of dilemmas V type v/s W type Epistemic v/s ontological Self-imposed v/s imposed by the world Obligation v/s prohibition

Interpersonal moral conflicts As moral dilemmas are typically described, they involve a single agent. The agent ought, all things considered, to do A, ought, all things considered, to do B, and she cannot do both A and B. But we can distinguish multi-person dilemmas from single agent ones. The two-person case is representative of multi-person dilemmas. 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. Multi-person dilemmas have been called interpersonal moral conflicts. Multiple Moralities This involves the relationship between various kinds of morality between the general obligations that you have as a moral agent and the role specific obligations that you may have. Cases of moral dilemma: 1. Euthanasia It is not right to take any ones life v/s alleviate a persons pain 2. Capital Punishment It is not right to take any ones life v/s give a punishment befitting the crime 3. Parents of children who engage in activities that qualify as child labour Deny the happy childhood for this child and feed the family v/s give this child all freedom; but the family has to suffer

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