Moral dilemmas

Moral DilemmasMoral Dilemmas

Moral dilemmasMoral dilemmas

A situation in which, whatever choice is made, A situation in which, whatever choice is made, the agent commits a moral wrong the agent commits a moral wrong

Moral Dilemmas Moral Dilemmas

Example from Book I of Plato's Example from Book I of Plato's RepublicRepublic

Cephalus defines ‘justice’ as speaking the truth Cephalus defines ‘justice’ as speaking the truth and paying one's debts.and paying one's debts.

Socrates quickly refutes this account by Socrates quickly refutes this account by suggesting that it would be wrong to repay suggesting that it would be wrong to repay certain debts (weapon)certain debts (weapon)

Moral dilemmasMoral dilemmas

Socrates' point is not that repaying debts is Socrates' point is not that repaying debts is without moral import; rather, he wants to show without moral import; rather, he wants to show that it is not always right to repay one's that it is not always right to repay one's debts….debts….


There is a conflict between two moral norms: There is a conflict between two moral norms: repaying one's debts and protecting others repaying one's debts and protecting others from harm. from harm.


The agent regards herself as having moral The agent regards herself as having moral reasons to do each of two actions, but doing reasons to do each of two actions, but doing both is not possibleboth is not possible


When one of the conflicting requirements When one of the conflicting requirements overrides the other, we do not have a genuine overrides the other, we do not have a genuine moral dilemma.moral dilemma.

In the In the CritoCrito, Does Socrates confront a moral , Does Socrates confront a moral dilemma?dilemma?


1.1. Something morally Something morally rightright

2.2. Something morally Something morally wrongwrong

Bad outcomeBad outcome

Good or better Good or better outcomeoutcome

Moral DilemmaMoral Dilemma

A woman was near death from a unique kind of A woman was near death from a unique kind of cancer. There is a drug that might save her. The drug cancer. There is a drug that might save her. The drug costs $4,000 per dosage. The sick woman's husband, costs $4,000 per dosage. The sick woman's husband, Heinz, went to everyone he knew to borrow the Heinz, went to everyone he knew to borrow the money and tried every legal means, but he could only money and tried every legal means, but he could only get together about $2,000. He asked the doctor get together about $2,000. He asked the doctor scientist who discovered the drug for a discount or scientist who discovered the drug for a discount or that he let him pay later. But the doctor scientist that he let him pay later. But the doctor scientist refused. refused.

Moral DilemmaMoral Dilemma

Should Heinz break into the laboratory to steal Should Heinz break into the laboratory to steal the drug for his wife? the drug for his wife?

(Why or why not?)(Why or why not?)

Moral StagesMoral Stages

Lawrence Kohlberg (1927-87)Lawrence Kohlberg (1927-87)

KohlbergKohlberg

Kohlberg proposed that moral reasoning, Kohlberg proposed that moral reasoning, which he thought to be the basis for ethical which he thought to be the basis for ethical behavior, develops through stages. behavior, develops through stages.

Moral StagesMoral Stages

Level 1: PRE-CONVENTIONALLevel 1: PRE-CONVENTIONAL

Level 2: CONVENTIONALLevel 2: CONVENTIONAL

Level 3: POST-CONVENTIONALLevel 3: POST-CONVENTIONAL

Kohlberg’s StagesKohlberg’s Stages

Level 1 (Pre-conventional)Level 1 (Pre-conventional)

Reasoners judge the morality of an action by its Reasoners judge the morality of an action by its direct consequencesdirect consequences

Stage One: Obedience and Punishment Stage One: Obedience and Punishment

Stage Two: Individualism, Instrumentalism, andStage Two: Individualism, Instrumentalism, and

Exchange Exchange

Heinz DilemmaHeinz Dilemma

Stage One (Stage One (obedienceobedience): Heinz should not steal ): Heinz should not steal the medicine, because otherwise he will be put the medicine, because otherwise he will be put in prison.in prison.

Pre-conventional levelPre-conventional level

Stage One (Stage One (obedience orientationobedience orientation) )

Individuals focus on the direct consequences Individuals focus on the direct consequences that their actions will have for themselves.that their actions will have for themselves.

Socrates’ DilemmaSocrates’ Dilemma

From the point of view of Stage One, Socrates From the point of view of Stage One, Socrates should not die because… should not die because…

Heinz Moral DilemmaHeinz Moral Dilemma

Pre-conventional LevelPre-conventional Level

Stage Two (Stage Two (self-interestself-interest): Heinz should steal ): Heinz should steal the medicine, because he will be much happier the medicine, because he will be much happier if he saves his wife, even if he will have to if he saves his wife, even if he will have to serve a prison sentence.serve a prison sentence.


Stage Two (Stage Two (self-interest orientationself-interest orientation): ):

what's in it for mewhat's in it for me position. Right behavior is position. Right behavior is defined by what is in one's own best interest.defined by what is in one's own best interest.

Socrates’ DilemmaSocrates’ Dilemma

From a level two perspective, Socrates should From a level two perspective, Socrates should not die because…not die because…


Level 2 (Conventional)Level 2 (Conventional)

People who reason in a conventional way judge the People who reason in a conventional way judge the morality of actions by comparing these actions to morality of actions by comparing these actions to social rules and expectations.social rules and expectations.

Stage Three: Interpersonal Concordance ("Good Stage Three: Interpersonal Concordance ("Good boy/girl")boy/girl")

Stage Four: Law and Order Stage Four: Law and Order

Heinz Moral DilemmaHeinz Moral Dilemma

CONVENTIONAL LEVELCONVENTIONAL LEVEL

Stage Three (Stage Three (conformityconformity): Heinz should steal ): Heinz should steal the medicine, because his wife expects it.the medicine, because his wife expects it.

Conventional levelConventional level

Stage Three (Stage Three (conformity orientationconformity orientation))

Individuals seek approval from other people. Individuals seek approval from other people. They judge the morality of actions by They judge the morality of actions by evaluating the consequences of these actions evaluating the consequences of these actions for a person's relationships. for a person's relationships.

Socrates dilemmaSocrates dilemma

Socrates should not die because…Socrates should not die because…

Heinz DilemmaHeinz Dilemma

Stage Four (Stage Four (law-and-orderlaw-and-order): Heinz should not ): Heinz should not steal the medicine, because the law prohibits steal the medicine, because the law prohibits stealing. stealing.

Conventional levelConventional level

Stage Four (Stage Four (law-and-order mentalitylaw-and-order mentality).).

In stage four, individuals think it is important In stage four, individuals think it is important to obey the law and conventions of society.to obey the law and conventions of society.

Socrates DilemmaSocrates Dilemma

Socrates should die because…Socrates should die because…


Level 3 (Post-conventional)Level 3 (Post-conventional)

(Most people do not reach this level of moral (Most people do not reach this level of moral reasoning)reasoning)

Stage Five: Human Rights Stage Five: Human Rights

Stage Six: Universal Ethical Principles Stage Six: Universal Ethical Principles (Principled Conscience) (Principled Conscience)

Heinz moral dilemmaHeinz moral dilemma

Stage five (Stage five (human rightshuman rights):):

Heinz should steal the medicine because Heinz should steal the medicine because saving his wife is more important than obeying saving his wife is more important than obeying the law. the law.

Post-conventional levelPost-conventional level

Stage Five (Stage Five (human rights orientationhuman rights orientation)) People have certain principles to which they People have certain principles to which they

attach more value than laws, such as human attach more value than laws, such as human rights.rights.

An action is wrong if it violates certain ethical An action is wrong if it violates certain ethical principles.principles.

Laws that do not promote general social Laws that do not promote general social welfare should be changedwelfare should be changed

Socrates dilemmaSocrates dilemma

Socrates should not die…?Socrates should not die…?

We are at level 3!!!! We are at level 3!!!!


Stage six (Stage six (universal human ethicsuniversal human ethics):):

Heinz should steal the medicine, because Heinz should steal the medicine, because saving a human life is a more fundamental saving a human life is a more fundamental value than respecting the property of another value than respecting the property of another person.person.


Stage Six (Stage Six (ethical principle orientationethical principle orientation). ).

Moral reasoning is based on the use of abstract Moral reasoning is based on the use of abstract reasoning using universal principles.reasoning using universal principles.

(People rarely, if ever, reach stage 6 of (People rarely, if ever, reach stage 6 of Kohlberg's model) Kohlberg's model)

Socrates’ DecisionSocrates’ Decision

Socrates chose to die Socrates chose to die because….because….

SocratesSocrates

Should we return the weapon then (according Should we return the weapon then (according to Socrates)?to Socrates)?

SocratesSocrates

Socrates maintains that protecting others from Socrates maintains that protecting others from harm is the norm that takes priorityharm is the norm that takes priority

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Moral dilemmas

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