Ethical Dilemmas and How to Resolve Them
In this lesson, you’ll learn what an ethical dilemma is, how a conflict of values causes it, and what five approaches you can follow to resolve these dilemmas.
Course Length: 8 minutes
In this lesson, you’ll learn what an ethical dilemma is, how a conflict of values causes it, and what five approaches you can follow to resolve these dilemmas.
Course Length: 8 minutes
In this lesson, you’ll learn what an ethical dilemma is, how a conflict of values causes it, and what five approaches you can follow to resolve these dilemmas.
Course Length: 8 minutes
Lesson Summary: Resolving Ethical Dilemmas
In this lesson, we explored the concept of ethical dilemmas, their root causes, and strategies for resolving them.
An ethical dilemma refers to a situation where a person is faced with conflicting moral choices, making it difficult to determine the right course of action.
The primary cause of ethical dilemmas is a conflict of values. When individuals hold different, and sometimes contradicting, values, making decisions becomes challenging.
To handle ethical dilemmas effectively, we discussed five approaches that can be employed:
1. Utilitarian Approach
Utilitarianism emphasizes maximizing overall happiness or well-being for the most significant number of people. In this approach, decisions are made by analyzing the consequences of each possible course of action and selecting the one that yields the greatest benefit.
2. Rights-based Approach
The rights-based approach focuses on protecting individuals' fundamental rights and values. Decisions are made by considering the rights and liberties of those involved and ensuring they are upheld, even if it may not maximize overall happiness.
3. Justice Approach
The justice approach concentrates on fairness and equality. Decisions are made by evaluating the distribution of resources, benefits, and burdens and ensuring that individuals are treated fairly and impartially.
4. Virtue Approach
The virtue approach centers around personal character and moral excellence. Decisions are made by considering one's own virtues and those necessary to become a morally upright individual. This approach emphasizes acting in alignment with virtues such as honesty, integrity, and compassion.
5. Common Good Approach
The common good approach focuses on promoting the well-being of the entire community or society. Decisions are made by considering the impact on society as a whole and striving for outcomes that benefit the collective group.
By employing one or a combination of these approaches, individuals can navigate ethical dilemmas more effectively and make well-informed decisions that align with their values and moral principles. It is crucial to analyze the situation, consider multiple perspectives, and weigh the consequences before selecting the most appropriate approach.
