Ethics Reviewer: Moral Dilemmas Quiz

Questions and Answers

What is a key feature of a moral dilemma?

You cannot do all the possible actions presented to you

What is the Golden Rule?

Do unto others what you would like them do unto you

Which of the following is a characteristic of moral standards?

Associated with special emotions and vocabulary

What does universalizability mean in the context of moral standards?

Applying consistent value judgments to all situations Signup and view all the answers

What does impartiality mean in relation to moral standards?

Being free of bias or prejudice Signup and view all the answers

What is the main characteristic of a dilemma according to the text?

It involves a situation where two or more options must be chosen Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes an Epistemic Dilemma from an Ontological Dilemma?

An Epistemic Dilemma involves conflicting moral requirements that override each other, while an Ontological Dilemma has conflicting requirements that do not override each other Signup and view all the answers

How is a Self-Imposed Dilemma different from a World-Imposed Dilemma?

In a Self-Imposed Dilemma, the agent’s wrongdoings cause the moral conflict, while in a World-Imposed Dilemma, external events lead to the moral conflict Signup and view all the answers

What sets apart an Obligation Dilemma from a Prohibition Dilemma?

In an Obligation Dilemma, there is only one feasible action as obligatory, while in a Prohibition Dilemma all feasible actions are forbidden Signup and view all the answers

How does a Single Agent Dilemma differ from a Multi-Person Dilemma?

In a Single Agent Dilemma, the agent is torn between doing A or B; in a Multi-Person Dilemma, there are many agents involved who must make choices. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Moral Dilemmas

A situation in which a tough choice must be made between two or more options, especially more or less equally undesirable ones
A temporary situation that questions the morals of a person, requiring them to choose one moral that overrules another

Types of Moral Dilemmas

Epistemic and Ontological Dilemmas
- Epistemic Dilemma: involves situations where there are two or more moral requirements that conflict with each other
- Ontological Moral Dilemma: involves two or more moral requirements, yet neither of these conflicting requirements overrides each other
Self-Imposed and World-Imposed Dilemmas
- Self Imposed Moral Dilemma: caused by a moral agent's wrongdoings
- World Imposed Moral Dilemma: certain events in the world place the moral agent in a situation of moral conflict
Obligation and Prohibition Dilemmas
- Obligation Dilemma: involves more than one feasible action as obligatory
- Prohibition Dilemma: all feasible actions are forbidden
Single Agent and Multi Person Dilemmas
- Single Agent: the agent "ought, all things considered to do A, ought, things considered to do B, and she cannot do both A and B"
- Multi-person Dilemma: there are many agents involved

Complex Situations Leading to Moral Dilemmas

The problem of Vagueness
The problem of conflicting reasons
The problem of disagreement

Key Features of Moral Dilemma

There are two or more actions that can be possibly done
There is a moral reason/s for doing such action
You cannot do all the possible actions presented to you, thus you have to choose one

Levels of Dilemma

Individual Dilemma
Organizational Dilemma
Structural Dilemma

Moral and Non-Moral Standards

Moral standards: standard by which we compare human actions to determine their goodness or badness
Refers to the norms which we have about the types of action which we believe to be morally acceptable and unacceptable

Characteristics of Moral Standard

Moral standards involve serious wrongs or significant benefits
Moral standards ought to be preferred to other values
Moral standards are not established by authority figures
Moral standards have the trait of universalizability
Moral standards are based on impartial (impartiality) considerations
Moral standards are associated with special emotions and vocabulary

Golden Rule and Impartiality

Golden Rule: "Do unto others what you would them do unto you"
Impartiality: usually depicted as being free of bias or prejudice, requires morally equal and or adequate consideration to the interests of all the parties involved