What are Dilemmas

DILEMMA

l it is a situation where a person is forced to choose between or more conflicting

options, neither of which is acceptable.

Moral dilemmas

l are situations where persons, who are called "moral agent s" in ethics

l In moral dilemmas, the moral agent ( who understands the right and wrong
"seems fated to commit something wrong, which implies that he/she is bound
to morally fail because in one way or another he/she will fail to do something
which he/she ought to do.

CONDITIONS TO BE CALLED A MORAL DILEMMA

a) The person or the agent of a moral action is obliged to make decision

about which course of action is best

b) There must be different courses of choose from;

c) no matter which course of action the moral agent chooses, there is always
that moral principle that is compromised.

3 Levels of Moral Dilemma

1.​ Individual/ Personal Dilemma

-experienced and resolved on the personal level.

​ - most dilemmas are at this level.

Ex: Ectopic Pregnancy

2.​ Organizational Dilemma

-​ encountered and resolved by social organizations.
-​ Include those in the medical, business, and public sectors.
 3.​ Structural Dilemma

-pertain to cases involving networks of institutions and operative theoretical

paradigms.

Foundation of Morality: Freedom-responsibility for one’s actions and to

others

Morality

l refers to the distinction between right and wrong

l the sets of standards that enable people to live cooperatively in groups. It is

what the society determine to be right or acceptable.(people as ruler of
society)

l morality isn’t fixed. What is considered acceptable in your culture might not be
acceptable in another.

EXAMPLES:

>Universal morality

-to be brave, be fair, return favors, respect, the golden rule which treat
others the way you want to be treated.

>Immoral problems that slowly getting accepted overtime

- same sex marriage, the use of drugs( marijuana), pre-marital sex.

Freedom

l The power or right to act, speak or think as one wants without hindance or
restraints.

l Freedom is the power rooted in a reason and will, to act or not to act, to do this
or that and so to perform deliberate actions on one's own responsibility.
Every action you choose further determines our character.
 > External freedom

-a freedom from factors outside ourselves that limit or destroy our

free will.

-type of freedom that is an illusion. It’s not real. You can never have
complete control over your external environment because there
are always other factors – other people, other events – that are out
of your reach.

>Internal freedom

-freedom from within that limits our free will-- our ability to make a
choice without interference or influence of outside factors.

Responsibility in Ethics

l Moral responsibility concerns to the extent which a person believes that another
individual or group is blameworthy and ought to be accountable for violating
standards of conduct by either behaving in an unacceptable manner or
failing to behave in an acceptable manner.

>PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

-Personal responsibility involves being accountable for one’s own behavior

and action.

>INDIRECT RESPONSIBILITY

-In this level, the person not only takes responsibility for one’s action but they
also come forward to take responsibility for others actions

Relationship between Freedom and Responsibility

l Freedom and responsibility are considered to be deeply intertwined, where

having greater freedom often means having a greater responsibility to act
ethically and consider the consequences of your choices, essentially
meaning that with the power to choose freely, comes the accountability for
the outcomes of those choices; they go hand-in-hand
 l True freedom isn't just about doing whatever you want, but also recognizing the
impact of your actions on others, thus requiring responsibility to act
appropriately.

l To maintain a satisfying level of freedom we must accept full responsibility for

the consequences of our thoughts and actions.

Culture in Moral Behavior

Culture

l It encompasses the shared values, beliefs, customs, traditions, language and

social norms of a community, shaping individual and collective identity

Moral Behavior

l Involves principles guiding right and wrong actions, ethical standards for
interactions like respect, empathy, honesty and fairness.

Cultural Behavior

l Refers to the way people think, feel, and act as a result of their cultural
background and experience influencing how they read others.

TYPES OF CULTURE

1. Material Culture

lA physical object created by humans.

2. Non-Material Culture

lA non-physical object like language, customs, values, norms and beliefs.

Culture and its Role in Moral Behaviour

1. Moral Codes and Norms:

l Our norms are the rules that govern our behavior in society. They tell us what is
considered acceptable and unacceptable behavior. For example, in some
 cultures, it is considered rude to make eye contact with someone you don't
know. In other cultures, eye contact is seen as a sign of respect. Our norms
also tell us how we should interact with each other in different social settings.
For example, in some cultures, it is considered polite to shake hands when
you meet someone new. In other cultures, it is considered more polite to bow
or kiss the other person's cheek.

2. Family and Socialization:

l From an early age, individuals are socialized into their culture, learning about
acceptable behavior and moral values through family, schools, and peer
groups. The teachings passed down from generation to generation, such as
respect for elders or the importance of community, often shape how
individuals view moral decisions.

l Example: In Filipino culture, parents teach their children to use “po” and “opo”
as a sign of respect when speaking to elders. When visitors arrive at home,
children are expected to mano (a gesture of taking an elder's hand to their
forehead) as a way of showing respect and good manners.

3. Religious Beliefs:

l Many cultures are influenced by religious teachings, which offer guidelines for
moral behavior. In some cultures, religious teachings provide the foundation
for laws, ethical decision-making, and how individuals should treat one
another.

l Example: During religious events such as Semana Santa (Holy Week), many
Filipinos perform acts of penance and sacrifice to show repentance for their
sins and obedience to the moral teachings of the Catholic Church. Many also
attend Mass every Sunday as part of their moral responsibility in their faith.

4. Cultural Practices:

l Cultural practices can also define what is considered morally acceptable. For
example, some societies have practices around hospitality, generosity, or
honesty that align with their moral beliefs. How people treat others in
different contexts (e.g., family gatherings, business transactions, or
communal events) is influenced by these cultural expectations.

l Example: In rural areas, especially during fiestas, it is common to see

bayanihan (a spirit of communal unity and cooperation), where neighbors
 help each other in preparations, such as contributing food or assisting with
event arrangements. This shows the moral value of generosity and solidarity.

5. Ethical Dilemmas:

l Culture can affect how people perceive and approach moral dilemmas. For
instance, an action that is viewed as morally acceptable in one culture might
be seen as unethical in another, like issues around personal freedom,
marriage customs, or even business ethics.

l Example: In public transportation businesses, such as jeepneys, there are

times when a driver may overload passengers to earn more money. While
some may see this as a practical decision, others consider it unethical
because it compromises passenger safety.

WHAT IS CULTURAL RELATIVISM? Why is it not tenable in Ethics?

CULTURAL RELATIVISM

l Is the idea that a person's beliefs, values, and practices should be understood
based on that person's own culture, and not be judged against the criteria of
another.

Two Types of Cultural Relativism:

ABSOLUTE

l relativists believe that outsiders must and should not question everything that
happens within a culture.

CRITICAL

l questions cultural practices regarding who is accepting them and why, as well
as recognizing power relationships.

Why is it not tenable in Ethics?

l It is not tenable because ethicists believe that the concept of cultural relativism
threatens the discipline of ethics since, if values are relative to a given
culture then this must mean that there are no universal moral absolutes by
which the behavior of people can be judged.