Moral-Dilemmas.Ethics presentation- Dilem

ETHICS

1. INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES Understand the concept of moral dilemma Understand the importance Moral Dilemma in making moral decision/judgment Identify levels of moral dilemma Articulate the 7-step moral reasoning Apply the value of integrity in one’s moral reasoning

2. WHICH ONE SHOULD I TAKE?

3. WHICH ONE SHOULD I TAKE? A qualif i ed candidate who wants to run in their congressional district . He wants to create change and he knew that he can well-represent their district if he will win the election. However, h is opponent i s a known d rug-pusher , illiterate but very rich. H e knows that his district will be in danger if his opponent will win. So, he told himself that at by all means he should win the election. But he knew from the very start that if he will not buy votes, like what his opponent will be doing, he will surely lose the election. Now, some of his supporters are willing to fund him for him to win because they believed on him. But he knew that vote- buying is illegal. He is now in dilemma whether to accept the offer or not? W hether he will engage in vote-buying or not ? This is a situation where a man ’s dignity and integrity is being tested . But a s stated above, not all legal are moral. It maybe illegal to buy votes but does it make the person immoral if he will buy votes for him to win the election knowing that h e has good intention? If you think that this situation falls down in a moral dilemma , what makes the issue moral then?

4. When you are confused on what course you will take ( accounting or engineering ) , do you think you are facing a dilemma? Is there a moral issue (moral dilemma) involve when you consider whether to stop schooling to help the family in financial problem s or opting to stay in school and let the parents work ? Hence, w hat is the moral dilemma there?

5. WHAT IS A DILEMMA? A situation where there is no clear ‘best Choice” between two or more alternatives. A situation where a person is forced to choose between two or more conflicting options, neither of which is acceptable. A situation in which a tough choice has to be made between two or more options, especially more or less equally undesirable ones Not all dilemmas are moral dilemmas

6. IS DILEMMA A PROBLEM? A dilemma is a difficult choice between unattractive alternatives. If a person is in a situation where he/she does not have to choose between two alternatives, it is not a dilemma Rather, it can be a problematic or distressful situation Yet, a problem is a situation that must be resolved somehow.

7. WHAT ARE MORAL DILEMMAS? situations in which the decision-maker must consider two or more moral values or duties but can only honor one of them ; thus, the individual will violate at least one important moral concern , regardless of the decision situations in which there is a choice to be made between TWO OPTIONS, neither of which resolves the situation in an ethically acceptable fashion.

8. CRUCIAL FEATURES OF A MORAL DILEMMA The agent is required to do each of two (or more) actions The agent can do each of the actions but The agent cannot do both (or all) of the actions. “either or” 2 conflicting goods or 2 conflicting evils

9. THREE LEVELS OF MORAL DILEMMA PERSONAL DILEMMAS (individual level) ORGANIZATIONAL DILEMMAS (company level) STRUCTURAL DILEMMAS (systemic level)

10. PERSONAL DILEMMAS (INDIVIDUAL LEVEL) Are those experienced and resolved on the personal level . Since ethical decisions are personally made, most of moral dilemmas fall in this level If a person makes conflicting promises , he faces moral conflict. It is an individual’s damn-if-you-do-and-damn-if-you-don’t situation. EXAMPLE: Maria is a deeply religious person; hence, she considers killing humans absolutely wrong. Unfortunately, it is found out that Maria is having an ectopic pregnancy. Hence, Maria is faced with Two Conflicting Options: A. Resort to Abortion or B. Does not resort to abortion (Normal vs Ectopic)

11. ORGANIZATIONAL DILEMMAS (COMPANY LEVEL) An organizational dilemma is a puzzle posed by the dual necessities of a social organization and member’s self-interest. It may exist between personal interests and organization welfare or between group interests and organizational well-being. A medical institution which believes that human life should not be deliberately shortened and that unpreventable pain should not be tolerated encounters a conflict in resolving whether to withdraw the life support from a dying patient UDM Mission Vision vs Students’ Academic Status

12. ORGANIZATIONAL DILEMMAS (COMPANY LEVEL) In public sector, government leaders and employees have a moral duty to act in a manner that is fair and unbiassed. Not to favor to family of friends or campaign contributors over constituents; favoring the agenda of one’s political party At a company level or corporate level, ethical standards are embedded in the policies and procedures of the organization. Ethical standards are applicable to all those within the organization Example. “Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers” Why this code is considered as organizational dilemmas? Because this code of ethics is applicable only to a certain organization/agency – education sector particularly teachers . This is a guide for all those of the organization. Sec 6, Art II. A teacher shall not use his position or facial authority or influence to coerce any other person to follow any political course of action.

13. STRUCTURAL DILEMMAS (SYSTEMIC LEVEL) Cases involving network of institutions and operative theoretical paradigms. It is a conflict of perspective of sectors, groups and institutions that may be affected by the decisions. Differentiation versus Integration in Structural Dilemma - with DECENTRALIZATION, local governments have become more empowered to address their problems or are given opportunity in localize the given curriculum. In effect, local governments and schools have likewise become more differentiated and so it becomes more difficult to integrate them for a UNIFIED STRUCTURE. LOCAL GOVERNANCE HAVE BECOME MORE COMPLEX. Any attempt to introduce REFORM in society or government creates structural dilemma. K212 PROGRAM – TEACHING JOB DISPLACEMENT UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE – SOCIALIZED HEALTHCARE

14. STRUCTURAL DILEMMAS (SYSTEMIC LEVEL) K212 PROGRAM – TEACHING JOB DISPLACEMENT UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE – SOCIALIZED HEALTHCARE – why would those who contribute less to the SOCIAL FUND enjoy the same benefits as those who contributed big amounts premium. DRUG(MEDICINE) PRICE CONTROL. If the government intervenes by introducing price control, the drug stores may lose so much that they may close the store. If the government does not do anything at all, the patients will continue to suffer because they may not be able to afford the high prices of medicines

15. THE 7-STEP MORAL REASONING MODEL Gather the Facts Determine the Ethical Issues Choose principles which have a bearing on the case List the alternatives – what are the available options? Compare alternatives with principles Assess the consequences Make a decision

16. GATHER FACTS Not every choice we make needs to be deliberated upon as a moral dilemma. Choosing what clothes to wear today, what food to eat for lunch, while involving some tension, are not what moral dilemma is about.

17. DETERMINE THE ETHICAL ISSUES Trigger Event: Identifying and setting up Ethical Problem. “THE ISSUE” Every ethical problem has more than one component and that not every component involves an ethical decision. For instance, we should be able to separate a client’s right to advertise from a possible ethical problem involving the way the product is to be advertised. And the issue should be stated clearly. The question is not whether the client should advertise, but whether the client should advertise in a particular manner that might ethically problematic.

18. CHOOSE PRINCIPLES WHICH HAVE A BEARING ON THE CASE Who are the stakeholders? It is important to identify the stakeholders who will be affected by the ethical decision to be made. This is also the first point at which ethical theories might be applied since the idea of moral stakeholders can be tied both to consequential and non-consequential theories. For Example, from a utilitarian perspective , the interest of the majority must be taken into consideration – therefore, the majority stakeholders must be recognized as a group. Recognized duties – like justice, gratitude, self-improvement, etc. – allow us not only to list stakeholders but also to decide on who they are. For example, if, as a reporter, you are obligated by the duty of fidelity to honor your implied contract with the public to give them the news you want to read, that reading public must be listed as a stakeholder in your decision.

19. LIST THE ALTERNATIVES – WHAT ARE THE AVAILABLE OPTIONS? It is important to list down at least three. As Aristotle remarks, there are at least two, and these two often represent the extremes. Nothing is either black or white ; sometimes one is forced to think in terms of a compromise, even if that compromise doesn’t exactly conform to your personal notion of what is the right thing to do.

20. COMPARE ALTERNATIVES WITH PRINCIPLES In considering and evaluating the options, it will help to be guided by the following approaches. This is the point at which the various sources of Christian morality, ethical theories and principles come into play. One will discover here that there is much conflict among these. There are no easy solutions.

21. ASSESS THE CONSQUENCES What benefits and what harms will each option procedure, and which alternative will lead the best overall consequence. Double checking one’s decision. It is important to take a second look at the decision to be made. First , we must see to it that our arguments are consistent. Ethics is supposed to provide us with a guide for moral living, and to do so, it must be rational – that is, free of contradictions. Second , we must also ask if our arguments are both valid and sound. A valid argument is one whose premises logically entail its conclusion. An invalid argument on the other hand is one whose premises do not entail its conclusion. A sound argument, on the other hand, has true premises and valid reasoning. Third , perhaps we can ask the following questions: what are the best and worse-case scenarios if I choose this particular option? Can I honestly live with myself if I make this decision? Will I be able to defend this decision to that claimant who has lost the most or been harmed the most? Finally , our decision must be ‘enabling” rather than “dis- abling ”. There are decisions that prevent us from acting any more fruitfully or effectively. These decisions cannot be moral. After all, a moral decision or action is one that liberates us – develops us our potentialities as a person.

22. MAKE A DECISION – Ethicists claim that this the most difficult part of the process of moral decision-making . It requires courage- especially when reason suggests one way and what we feel another way. Some people make their decisions even prior to the reasoning process. When this happens, it is possible to end up with a decision that one can then rationalize but not really justify.

23. IS IT POSSIBLE FOR A PERSON TO AVOID OR ESCAPE MORAL DILEMMA? If a person avoids moral dilemmas, they can avoid being involved in decisions that cause moral harm. Hence, when one avoids moral dilemmas, one avoids moral responsibilities that may result to greater moral problem