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Questions and Answers
What is a moral dilemma?
Where do answers to the question 'what is right?' come from according to the text?
What is one source of moral judgments as pursued by philosophers?
In psychology, when does a moral dilemma arise?
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What does a moral conflict involve according to the text?
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How does the English Oxford Dictionary define a moral dilemma?
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What is the principle that relates primarily to moral dilemma, as discussed in St. Thomas Aquinas' work?
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According to St. Thomas Aquinas, what is the primary condition for justifying killing one's assailant in self-defense?
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What does St. Thomas Aquinas argue about the permissibility of self-defense?
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Which of the following represents the two effects that can result from an act of self-defense according to St. Thomas Aquinas?
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Why does St. Thomas Aquinas consider an act of self-defense justified?
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Study Notes
Moral Dilemma
- Moral dilemmas arise when individuals are confronted with conflicting answers to the question "what is right?"
- Sources of moral judgments include personal experience, social interactions, and philosophical principles of morality
- In psychology, moral dilemmas occur when distinct psychological mechanisms for moral judgment yield conflicting judgments of individual cases
Conflict and Values
- Moral conflicts involve opposing values, beliefs, and norms
- Conflict is rooted in individual behavior as well as different values and norms of the society
Definition of Moral Dilemma
- The English Oxford Dictionary defines moral dilemma as a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two courses of action, either of which entails transgressing a moral principle
Moral Principles and Decision-Making
- Individuals are expected to have moral principles to guide them in moral decision-making
- Moral principles are based on a distinction between what one foresees (or could and should have foreseen) as a result of his or her voluntary action (free will) and what, in the strict sense, he or she intends to do
Principle of Double Effect
- The principle of double effect relates to moral dilemma and is based on the teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas
- The principle of double effect states that an act may have two effects: one intended and one unintended
- Example: Self-defense, where the intended effect is to save one's own life, and the unintended effect is the slaying of the aggressor
- The act of self-defense may be justified if one does not intend to kill the aggressor, but only intends to save one's own life
- However, the act of self-defense may be rendered unlawful if unnecessary violence is used
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Description
Test your knowledge about moral dilemmas, where individuals face conflicting ethical decisions. Explore different sources of moral judgment, including personal experiences, social interactions, and philosophical principles. Understand how moral dilemmas are viewed in psychology.
