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Lesson No. 6: Moral Standards and Moral Dilemmas

Moral standards are norms and values that guide individuals and groups to determine what actions are morally right or wrong based on considerations of human and environmental welfare. They prescribe rights and obligations and take precedence over other concerns. Moral dilemmas occur when a moral agent is forced to choose between two or more options that will all compromise moral principles in some way, with no perfect solution. Non-moral standards judge what is good/bad based on preferences rather than serious harm.

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229 views9 pages

Lesson No. 6: Moral Standards and Moral Dilemmas

Moral standards are norms and values that guide individuals and groups to determine what actions are morally right or wrong based on considerations of human and environmental welfare. They prescribe rights and obligations and take precedence over other concerns. Moral dilemmas occur when a moral agent is forced to choose between two or more options that will all compromise moral principles in some way, with no perfect solution. Non-moral standards judge what is good/bad based on preferences rather than serious harm.

Uploaded by

charles TV
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Lesson No.

Moral Standards and Moral Dilemmas


 MORAL STANDARDS

 They are norms (general rules about our actions or behaviors) that
individuals or groups have about the kinds of actions believed to be
morally right or wrong, as well as the values (enduring beliefs or
statements about what is good and desirable or not) placed on what
we believed to be morally good or morally bad.
 Some examples of norms are obligation to fulfill our promises;
killing innocent people is absolutely wrong.
 Some examples of values are helping the poor is good;
cheating during exams is bad.
 Moral standards normally promote “the good”, that is, the
welfare and well-being of humans as well as animals and the
environment.
 Moral standards, therefore, prescribe what humans ought to do
in terms of rights and obligations.
 Moral standards are the sum of combined norms and values.
Characteristics

1. Moral standards deal with matters we think can seriously injure or benefit
humans, animals, and the environment, such as child abuse, rape, and
murder.
2. Moral standards are not established or changed by the decisions of
authoritative individuals or bodies.
3. Moral standards are overriding, that is, they take precedence over other
standards and considerations, especially of self-interest.
4. Moral standards are based on impartial considerations, thus, they are fair and
just.
5. Moral standards are associated with special emotions (such as guilt and
shame) and vocabulary (such as right, wrong, good, and bad).
 NON-MORAL STANDARDS

 They are standards by which we judge what is good or bad and right
or wrong in a non-moral way.
 Examples of non-moral standards are the standards of
etiquette, standards of law, and standards of aesthetics.
 Non-moral standards are matters of taste and preference.
 Thus, a scrupulous observance of the said standards does not
actually make one a moral person and violation of such standards
does not pose any threat to human well-being.
 In moral standard, we say “Don’t kill innocent people.” or
“Don’t steal.” and the like.
 In a non-moral standard, we say “Don’t text while driving.”
or “Don’t speak when your mouth is full.” and the like.
 MORAL DILEMMAS
 Dilemma
 This refers to a situation where a person is forced to choose
between two or more conflicting options, neither of which is
acceptable.
o This implies that the person has choices to make that will all have results
she does not want.
o It must be noted, however, that if the agent is in a difficult situation but is
not forced to choose two or more options, then she is not in a dilemma.
o When dilemmas involve human actions with moral implications, they are
called ethical or moral dilemmas.
 Moral Dilemma
 It is a situation where moral agents are forced to choose between two
or more conflicting options, neither of which resolves the situation in a
morally acceptable manner.
 There are three conditions needed to be present in a situation to be
considered as a moral dilemma.
1. The agent of a moral action is obliged to make a decision about which
course of action is best. She must choose the best option and act
accordingly.
2. There must be different courses of action to choose from.
3. No matter what course of action is taken, some moral principles are
always compromised.
 There is no perfect solution to the problem.
 In moral dilemmas, the moral agent “seems fated to commit
something wrong which implies that she is bound to morally fail
because in one way or another she will fail to do something which
she ought to do.”

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