MODULE: VAL02 – ETHICS
MORAL DILLEMAS
A. Explain the relationship between and among the self, society and culture.
B. Describe and discuss the different ways by which society and culture shape the self.
C. Differentiate the levels of moral dilemmas and analyze their impact on ethical decision-making.
📝 Guide Questions:
1. How do we know if a situation is a true moral
TOPIC 1: WHAT IS A MORAL dilemma?
2. Why does a moral dilemma feel like a “no-win
DILEMMA? situation”?
Welcome to another insightful lesson in Ethics! In this chapter, we dive into the challenging but important
topic of moral dilemmas. These are situations where doing what is “right” becomes complicated because
two moral values come into conflict, and choosing one means letting go of another.
Every one of us, at some point in life, will experience a moment where no option feels completely right — and
yet, we must decide.
In this module, you will learn:
what a moral dilemma is,
how it differs from a false dilemma,
the different levels of dilemmas,
and how moral dilemmas impact ethical decision-making.
By the end of this chapter, you’ll better understand why moral conflicts happen and how people can approach
them with clarity and compassion.
““Facing moral dilemmas does not make us weak — it reminds us that morality is
complex, and choosing wisely takes courage.”
Understanding Moral Dilemmas
A moral dilemma happens when a person must choose between two moral actions, but cannot do both.
Each option has a moral weight, yet choosing one means violating another important moral duty.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, an ethical or moral dilemma is a “decision-making problem between two
moral imperatives, neither of which is unambiguously acceptable or preferable.”
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This means:
1. The person is morally required to do two actions,
2. Each action is possible to do,
3. But the person cannot do both,
4. And whichever is chosen, something morally important is sacrificed.
This creates a feeling of being “morally trapped.”
Some describe it as a “damn-if-you-do, damn-if-you-don’t” situation.
Example: The Pregnant Lady and the Dynamite
A group of people is trapped in a cave. A pregnant woman blocks the exit, and the water is rising.
The rescuers have dynamite, but using it will kill the woman — yet save the other five. Not using it will save
the woman but cause the other five to drown.
Both options violate a moral value:
save the many,
or protect the innocent life.
Neither option feels fully right.
This is a genuine moral dilemma.
When is a Dilemma Genuine?
According to philosopher McConnell (2019), a situation is a true moral dilemma only when neither moral
requirement overrides the other.
Both must be equally strong and significant.
If one moral duty clearly outranks the other, then it is not a true dilemma.
To learn more, you can watch this video: [Link]
TOPIC 2: FALSE DILEMMA
A false dilemma happens when a situation appears to give only two choices, but in reality, the person
is simply choosing between right and wrong, not between two moral duties.
It is not a conflict of moral values — it is a conflict between temptation and obligation.
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MODULE: VAL02 – ETHICS
📝 Guide Questions:
1. Why is it important to recognize false
dilemmas in real-life situations?
2. How does the false dilemma oversimplify
the issue?
Example:
A lawyer must choose between being honest to the client or taking
bribes for personal gain.
A student chooses between doing honest work or cheating.
Here, one option is clearly morally right, while the other is wrong. Thus, this is NOT a true moral dilemma.
societies grow and interact with one another.
Reflect: Think of a time when you felt conflicted. Was it really a moral
dilemma, or just a choice between right and wrong?
TOPIC 3: LEVELS OF MORAL DILEMMAS
Moral dilemmas can occur at different levels of life:
1. Individual Level
2. Organizational Level
3. Structural (Societal) Level
Let’s break them down.
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MODULE: VAL02 – ETHICS
A. INDIVIDUAL MORAL DILEMMAS
These are personal moral struggles.
Example: Heinz’s Dilemma
Heinz’s wife is dying, and only one medicine can save her. The drug is expensive, and Heinz cannot
afford it. Should he steal the medicine to save her life?
Heinz must choose between:
obeying the law,
or saving his wife.
This is a classic individual moral dilemma studied by Kohlberg.
B. ORGANIZATIONAL MORAL DILEMMAS
These occur within institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or companies.
Example: Catholic School Tuition
A school wants to offer affordable education to the poor (mission), but also needs to raise teachers’ salaries
to keep quality faculty (responsibility). Raising tuition helps teachers but hurts students.
Both options support moral values:
justice and fairness to teachers,
compassion and service to students.
Another example:
Mr. Brown’s Medical Case
A 74-year-old cancer patient wants “everything done” to prolong life.
But:
The patient’s family has financial struggles,
The hospital has limited resources,
Other patients need the same medicine,
The staff faces ethical pressure.
Each option benefits someone but harms someone else.
This is an organizational moral dilemma.
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MODULE: VAL02 – ETHICS
C. STRUCTURAL MORAL DILEMMAS
These involve large systems, such as government, education, or international structures.
Example: School Leadership
A school principal wants to use participatory leadership. However, past attempts led to conflict and
inefficiency. She now faces a choice:
continue participatory leadership (risk chaos),
or return to one-person decision-making (risk unfairness).
Another example:
Integration vs. Differentiation
Local governments and schools are given more independence through decentralization.
But independence makes coordination harder, especially in education and governance. Balancing autonomy
and unity becomes difficult.
TOPIC 4: RESOLVING MORAL 📝 Guide Questions:
3. How can you decide when both choices feel
DILEMMAS 4.
wrong?
What strategies do philosophers suggest?
5. Can creativity help resolve a dilemma?
How Do We Resolve Moral Dilemmas?
Here are some strategies:
1️. Look for Alternative Options
Some dilemmas are only dilemmas because the person sees only two choices.
A creative thinker tries to explore other possible solutions.
Example:
A parent is tempted to steal food for the family — but alternatives exist:
seek community support
ask for charity
look for emergency assistance
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MODULE: VAL02 – ETHICS
2. Choose the Greater Good or Lesser Evil
When no perfect option exists:
Choose the one that creates more good or
Causes less harm
This is often used in emergencies.
3. Apply Situation Ethics (Joseph Fletcher)
Fletcher believed:
“If I ought to do something, then I can do it.”
People are only obligated to do what they are capable of doing.
Moral judgment must consider love, compassion, and the context.
In other words:
“Do what you can, where you are, with what you have.”
🔍 Real-Life Example
A police officer responds to a flood emergency. He sees two people needing rescue — a child and an elderly
man. The officer can only save one because the water is rising fast.
Both lives matter.
Both have dignity.
But he cannot save both.
Whom should he save first? Whatever he chooses, a moral value is sacrificed.
This is a true moral dilemma — tragic, painful, and morally heavy.
Wrap-Up Questions
1. How do moral dilemmas differ from simple right vs. wrong situations?
2. Which moral dilemma level (individual, organizational, structural) do you relate to most?
3. Why is a false dilemma easier to decide than a true moral dilemma?
4. What strategies can help you resolve a moral dilemma?
5. Why do moral dilemmas help strengthen moral reasonin
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MODULE: VAL02 – ETHICS
Kohlberg, L. (1981). Essays on Moral Development Vol. 1. Harper & Row.
Gilligan, C. (1982). In a Different Voice. Harvard University Press.
Hauser, M. D. (2006). Moral Minds: How Nature Designed Our Universal Sense of Right
and Wrong. HarperCollins.
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