Republic of the Philippines
NORTHERN ILOILO POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
CONCEPCION CAMPUS
Concepcion, Iloilo
GE 8: Ethics MYLA M. MADRONIAL
BEEd I, BSEd FILIPINO I, BSED MATH I INSTRUCTOR II
2ND Semester, 2021- 2022
Module 2, Lesson 1
Moral Dilemmas
I. Introduction
In this module, amoral agent shall have identified and analyzed moral dilemma based on
real life situation and determined possible courses of action. The given situation in an activity is
provided for the courses of action.
Read the learning content and answer the questions that follow. Perform the activities and
submit it on time.
II. Learning Outcomes
Upon the completion of this lesson, you must have;
1. recognized the issue;
2. identifies the problem and who is involved; and
3. analyzed and determined possible courses of action.
III. Learning Content
Moral Case That Needs Decision Not To
To Do
Making Do
Conflict
Moral Reasons Unclear Moral Values Moral Reasons
Unclear Immediate
Action
Rights Rights
Duties Duties
Goods
INDICATION OF MORAL COMPLEXITY Goods
There are several types of moral dilemmas but the most common of them are categorized into
the following:
A. Epistemic and ontological dilemmas
B. Self-imposed and world imposed dilemmas
C. Obligation dilemmas and prohibition dilemmas
D. Single agent and multi-person dilemmas
A moral dilemma is a conflict of morals, where you are forced to choose between two or
more options and you have a moral reason to choose and not choose option. No matter what
choice you make in these situations, you always end up compromising some moral value. It
describes a conflict between two morally correct courses of action.
1. Recognize there is an issue
2. Identify the problem and who is involved
3. Consider the relevant facts, laws and principles
4. Analyze and determine possible course of action
5. Implement the solution
6. Evaluate and follow up.
What are some examples of ethical dilemmas?
Suppose one gives a promise to his friend that he will meet him on the evening of a
particular day, but unfortunately on the same day his brother has met with an accident and
he has to take him to hospital. The dilemma here consist of a conflict between the duty to
keep promise and obligations to his brother. In this situation, to solve his moral problem, he
can make a phone call to his friend and make apology for his inability to come. So, from
the above it is clear that the duty to keep promise always has two different and conflicting
applications.
Summary
A moral dilemma is a situation in which a person is torn between right and wrong. It is a
conflict in which you have to choose between two or more actions and have moral reasons for
choosing each action.
IV. Learning Assessment
Justify your answer by recognizing whether it is a moral dilemma or not. Give your moral
reasons and course action.
A woman was on her deathbed. There was one drug that the doctors thought might
save her. It was a form of radium that a druggist in the same town had recently discovered.
The drug was expensive to make, but the druggist was charging ten times what the drug
cost him to produce. He paid ＄200 for the radium and charged ＄2,000 for a small dose of
the drug. The sick woman’s husband, Heinz, went to everyone he knew to borrow the
money, but he could only get together about ＄1,000 which is half of what it cost. He told
the druggist that his wife was dying and asked him to sell it cheaper or let him pay later.
But the druggist said: “No, I discovered the drug and I’m going to make money from it”. So
Heinz got desperate and broke into the man’s laboratory to steal the drug for his wife.
Should Heinz have broken into the laboratory to steal the drug for his wife? Why or why
not?
V. Enrichment Activities/To Do
Activity 1
Comprehensively read the dilemma provided below and give stand to a given situation
using the rubrics as your guide.
A classic lifeboat dilemma is an example where there are only ten (10) spaces in the
lifeboat, but there are eleven (11) passengers on the sinking ship. A decision must be
made as to who will stay behind.
Rubrics:
Rationality 10 points
Organization of Thought 5 points
Language Facility (spelling, grammar, etc.) 5 points
_____________________________________________
TOTAL SCORE 20 points
VI. References
Rachels, J. (2015). “What is Morality?”Chapter 1 in the Elements of Moral Philosophy
Kohlberg, L. (1981). Essays on Moral Development, Vol.1: The Philosophy of Moral
Development. San Francisco, CA: Harper & Row. ISBN 0-06-064760-4
https.//link.springer.com
https.//www.stonyboardthat.com
-------End of Module 2, Lesson 1 -------
