An ethical dilemma refers to a situation in which a person faces conflicting moral principles. In these situations, people may feel torn between two or more morally justifiable choices, each with its own consequences. Ethical dilemmas are often caused by the contradiction between values, duties, or moral obligations.
Key characteristics of ethical dilemmas:
- Conflicting Values: Ethical dilemmas involve conflicting values, beliefs, or principles, making it difficult to determine the morally superior choice. The decision-maker mostly tries to make up her mind on which of her internal ethical values are more important according to her belief system and feelings. Even though the main target is looking at the situation objectively, people are usually influenced by their own past life experiences.
- No Clear Right or Wrong: In ethical dilemmas, there are no clear-cut right or wrong solutions. Each option has both positive and negative outcomes. That’s why no matter how hard the decision-maker tries to reach to a direct conclusion or how long she thinks about it, the dilemma will still remain unsolved.
- Complexity: Main factor that leads the decision-maker to hesitate her choice is the uncertainty, potential outcomes, and the following possible effects of her choice. Dilemmas make people question “What if ?..”. Interrogating makes people look from distinct perspectives which leads to a blurry mind. That is one of the most inconvenient and irritating things according to human psychology.
Examples of ethical dilemmas can be found in various areas of life, including healthcare, business, law, and personal relationships. For instance:
- I would like to share a famous healthcare-related dilemma:
“Dr. Anderson, a transplant surgeon, faces a moral dilemma when five patients need different organs urgently, and a single healthy donor is available—still alive. To save the five, he must euthanize the donor, challenging medical ethics and the principle of preserving life. The dilemma explores the conflict between utilitarianism (saving more lives) and the sanctity of individual life. The scenario highlights the complexities of medical decision-making and the ethical responsibilities of those who hold the power to determine life and death.”
Yes, this is an extreme example to occur in real life. However, it perfectly shows what is a medical ethical dilemma. In my opinion, killing a patient cannot be acceptable or “ethic”. So no matter what, I wouldn’t kill that one person. Even if he knows and accepts the situation. But as I mentioned before there is no right or wrong…
- In business, an executive may face with an ethical dilemma when deciding whether to prioritize profit maximization or make sacrifices and act in a socially responsible manner that can lead to a financial deficit.
- In law, an attorney could deal with an ethical dilemma when representing a client whose actions are morally questionable or wrong.
The well-known “Tram Dilemma” also pushes people to make an ethical choice. It is not related to these categories. However, famous stories like this make understanding the concept easier. I suppose I explained “Ethical Dilemmas” enough. Therefore, I am going to move on with an example relevant to personal relationships.
This is a summary of the dilemma “Liar” from a book called “101 Ethical Dilemmas” by Martin Cohen:
“Poor Zjamel. These days, her boyfriend is spending a lot of time with Ethel. Out of curiosity, she asks her boyfriend, ‘Is there something going on between you two?’ However, Bernard does indeed have a relationship with Ethel. On the other hand, he doesn’t take this relationship very ‘seriously.’ Ethel is married, and Bernard is quite attached to Zjamel, who has been going through a tough time lately. He doesn’t want to hurt her or lie to her. Clenching his teeth and remembering Nietzsche’s words, ‘To lie, is a condition of life and one of the terrible and troublesome features of existence’ he says, ‘Of course not, my love’ and gives Zjamel a big kiss. Zjamel feels relieved and much better about herself. Within a few months, Bernard and Ethel get tired of this relationship, and afterwards, no one thinks about this matter again. Did Bernard do the right thing?”
My opinion:
Firstly, I have to say this one is very relatable in today’s life. Especially, the young generation often discusses this kind of stuff. I think, in real, life his behavior is wrong. Because, there is always the risk of the truth being revealed. He is obviously aware of this, showing he doesn’t care. He creates a possibility that his girlfriend may become unhappy. If he is willing to take that risk, it means he doesn’t value her much. Besides, it shows the absence of respect. Another reason is that, in real life, human psychology has an undeniable effect on personal relationships. In case he cheats, probably his moral compass would make him feel bad. Even if it doesn’t, no one -even him- can guarantee that the cheater will always feel loyal to his existing relationship. People generally can’t control their emotions. He is also taking the risk of jeopardizing the relationship. We can see how inappropriate his behavior is, one more time. However, this story is an assumption. Considering there was never a risk of her finding out and that he has full control of his own emotions (meaning he will always stay loyal and make his girlfriend feel respected and loved) it is acceptable what he did in this story’s world. In dilemmas, we aim to make more people glad. In this one everybody is. This is why under these specific circumstances Bernard did the right thing.
Resolving ethical dilemmas often involves careful consideration of values, principles, and potential consequences. It may also require seeking advice from others, consulting ethical guidelines, or finding a compromise that minimizes harm while holding on to ethical standards. Ethical decision-making is a complex process that involves critical thinking, empathy, and a commitment to moral integrity. In the end, ethical dilemmas are mainly the gray side of life.
