Ethics - What are Moral Dilemmas?

A moral dilemma is a situation where a person is forced to choose between two or more conflicting moral obligations, and choosing one will inevitably mean violating another. It is not just some tough decision one has to make between something good and something bad. It is a clash between two “goods”—or even between two “bads,” where one is forced to choose the lesser evil. In other words, a moral dilemma involves significant moral stakes; its choices and consequences have serious ethical weight. In this video, we will explore what moral dilemmas are, the three conditions that make them, and analyze a classic example. Video Chapters 0:11 What are Moral Dilemmas? 0:43 The Three Conditions of Moral Dilemmas 2:00 An Example References Nair, Shyam. “Moral Dilemmas.” Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Accessed April 22, 2025. https://www.rep.routledge.com/articles/thematic/moral-dilemmas/v-1. Allen, Karen. “What is an Ethical Dilemma?” The New Social Worker. Accessed April 22, 2025. https://www.socialworker.com/feature-articles/ethics-articles/What_Is_an_Ethical_Dilemma%3F/. — Text: https://languageandphilosophy.blogspot.com/2025/05/what-are-moral-dilemmas.html Scott Rae’s 7-Step Moral Reasoning Model: https://youtu.be/zyU-51Dyv38 Ethics playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDeRF0yrSvCHmux0lr9sSTDv4kEMHsFYH Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090812957708 Support us on Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/languageanw #moraldilemma #ethicaldilemma #ethics