What is a moral dilemma, and where do we get our ideas of morality?

Question

Describe it as you would to a child. Give peoples opinions. e.g. parents, the media, school, religion, philosophy, reason.

Answer 1

Here's a classic moral dilemma:

A man's child is dying and he can't afford the medicine he nees to save the child's life. He breaks into the drug store and steals the medicine. Is that wrong?

Answer 2

Morality is the praxis of Wisdom which is demonstrated through Compassion and thus it has a progressive appearance sense the evolution of social man and his sense of humanity do evolve or have cycles of growth.

As these experiences lead to certian conclusions we caption them as precepts and standards but the dilemma arrives when two or more of these are part of an issue and suggest contraditory conclusions.

I just got through with answering what can be termed a moral dilemma concerning the Abortion issue. For example abortion may well be a religious admonishion and poses the question of being sexually responsible but to not abort in a context where the subsequent life would be subject to toil and suffering cou;d in certian instances be the greater crulity hence a dilemma of sorts.

Dilemmas are the hallmark of the Baroque Philosophers and Literary Classics who go beyond the romantic ideal and evolve the complexity of human interactions and yes, sometime to the point of tragedy!

Answer 3

A moral dilemma is when you have the choice of two actions, both equally unattractive to you. Moral dilemmas are subjective - a moral dilemma for one person may not be a more dilemma for another.

We get our ideas of morality from society, they develop and change with time. Each culture has it's own set of morals - some are universal and others are unique to that society.

It's simply a matter of perspective really.

Answer 4

We derive fundamental moral principles from the Bible, say, 'the Ten Commandments'. This is because, quite literally, there is no where else to get them from. Man, can't invent fundamental concepts of right and wrong, because he would have no idea what was right or, what was wrong. Fundamental principles of right and wrong derived from the Old Testament and were added to later by the teachings of Jesus. From this, man has been able to develop ideas of right and wrong, a kind of moral and ethical philosophy to guide us through an increasingly complex world. The more complex the world becomes, the more difficult it becomes to extrapolate from those early fundamental, or, first principles, and to know as a result, whether we are staying true to what God intended. These, man made extrapolations from first principles, we call Philosophy, and from this, we derive morals and ethics. Other respondents have promulgated some moral dilemmas. I could suggest one eg. "Is abortion morally acceptable"? does this not fly in the face of, "Thou shalt not kill".
Much of the research in the medical area, eg. cloning, is highly questionable. Maybe we have come too far to make reliable moral judgements anymore. That, in itself, is a moral dilemma.

Again, once the complexities of life force us to think beyond 'first priniciples', that is where differences of opinion can occur. First, or, fundamental principles, are given to us as absolutes. But, because of complexity, we have been forced to develop something called Philosophy (morals & ethics) which leads us into a murky world where, if we are not careful, what we want, becomes conveniently, what we consider morally correct. This is called "Moral Relativism".

Answer 5

I will give you an example of moral dilemma. My grand father was a registrar in Bombay university long time ago. He was a very strict and disciplined man. When my uncle appeared for Bachelor of arts final examination the answer papers were given to my Grand father for correction. He corrected it as he would have done for any other candidate and the result was my uncle failed by one mark. He did not add that one mark which would have saved my uncle a precious year. Between his son and his duty my grand father chose his duty as priority. A lesser person would have been in moral dilemma and if his conscious were weak he would have added the grace mark. My grand father could not do it because he could not betray the trust placed by the university on his honesty.He earned the life long enmity of my uncle for letting him down. if you put this matter for voting I think the majority would vote in favour of my uncle!
Man has inner consciousness which tells him what is right and what is wrong. Man has also emotional attachments and duty to his family members. When there is a conflict between his consciousness and obligations it becomes amoral dilemma

Answer 6

I'm not sure where they come from way way back in time, but I am sure that parents are the most important influence on a child growing up...I know that when I was teetering on the edge of going off the rails as a teen, I instinctively knew whether I was doing right or wrong because my parents had instilled a very strong sense of 'right and wrong' in me. Friends that had not had this never got back on track, and their own lives and the lives of those touched by them were negatively effected as a result.

Perhaps that's it - to live a moral life you should not take actions that will negatively impact upon those around you?

Answer 7

A moral dilemma occurs when two morally correct ideas collide with each other and both positions can be defended from within the same moral system.
Morality itself is a system or collection of beliefs which allow a person or group to judge the 'rightness' of an action, whether physical or mental. It arises out of the need for union within groups and to determine acceptable behaviour.
Sometimes it is embodied within a law system, sometimes it is not.

Answer 8

Frederick Nietzsche wrote a book called "the Genealogy of Morals." In this book, he explains that our current morality came to us from two different sources. The predominant morals in the US descended from the slave classes of Rome and ended up being set forth in Christianity and ultimately spread into societies of the west.

The moral dilemma that might arise in societies with slave class moral values could be applied to the current problem of illegal immigration. Should we respect the law or should we consider the emotional arguments about equality and diversity?

Answer 9

A moral dilema is when you are faced with choices that on the surface seem bad but result in good.

For example- it is bad to commit suicide - but in doing so you prevent your family from the wrath of the Mafia because you know too much- this is the dilema- do you not take you life and subject your family to sure toture, rape and murder, or do you take your ownlife to spare theirs?

PArents opions: it is better to do the greater good-

Religion: For no greater love is this: to lay down ones own life for another.

Media: Man kills himself- insurance fruad - cant face the realities of life (negative)

School - learn to adapt- find another solution: run away-

If in your own mind this is the "best" then one should be willing to lay down thier own life- this is a selfless act-

Answer 10

I see moral dilemas every day at work. See I'm a rescue paramedic so it goes with the terriatory. e.g. paitent with a DNR ( do not resatate) order. you know you can save the paitent but you are bound to stand by and let the paitent go. I see people who abuse the system and don't need our services but call because joe taxpayer will pick up the tab. Don't get me wrong I love my job and treat all persons with the same care reguardless.