What Is an Ethical Dilemma?

An ethical dilemma is a situation where you must choose between two or more options, and each option conflicts with a moral value you hold. Unlike simple problems, dilemmas do not have a single obviously correct answer — thoughtful people can disagree.

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Two Values Clash

e.g. Honesty vs loyalty

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No Perfect Option

Every choice has a downside

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Requires Reasoning

You must weigh and justify your choice

Example Dilemma:

Your best friend tells you they cheated on a test and asks you to keep it secret. You value loyalty to your friend, but you also value honesty and fairness to classmates who studied hard. What do you do?

Three Ways to Think About Ethics

Philosophers use different frameworks (ways of thinking) to reason through dilemmas. Each one focuses on something different.

1. Consequences (Consequentialism)

Ask: What outcome will produce the most good for the most people?

Focus on the results of your action. The right choice is the one that leads to the best overall outcome.

Applied to the cheating dilemma: Reporting protects fairness for many students. Staying silent protects one friend but harms the class system. Which outcome is better overall?

2. Duties and Rules (Deontology)

Ask: What rules or duties apply here, regardless of the outcome?

Focus on principles. Some actions are right or wrong in themselves — lying is wrong even if it leads to a good result.

Applied to the cheating dilemma: If honesty is a duty, you should not keep the secret. Your friend also broke a rule — and covering it up may make you complicit.

3. Character and Virtue (Virtue Ethics)

Ask: What would a person of good character do?

Focus on who you are, not just what you do. Aim to act with courage, honesty, compassion, and wisdom.

Applied to the cheating dilemma: A courageous, honest friend might encourage their friend to come clean — supporting them while also doing the right thing.

Classic Philosophical Dilemmas

The Trolley Problem

A runaway trolley is heading towards five people tied to the tracks. You can pull a lever to divert it to another track — but one person is on that track. Do you pull the lever?

Pull the lever

Five lives saved, but you actively caused one death. Consequentialist view: five is better than one.

Do nothing

You did not directly cause the deaths of the five. Deontological view: you should not use one person as a means to save others.

The Lifeboat Problem

A lifeboat holds 10 people safely, but 12 survivors are trying to board. If 2 more get on, the boat will sink and everyone will drown. What should the people already on the boat do?

The dilemma:

Saving 10 people means abandoning 2. But letting everyone on kills all 12. What values guide the decision? Fairness? Survival? Who decides?

The Whistleblower Dilemma

You discover that your employer is doing something harmful to the environment but not technically illegal. Speaking out will cost you your job and upset your colleagues. Staying silent protects you but harms the community.

Values in tension:

Personal security vs civic responsibility. Loyalty to colleagues vs duty to the wider community. Courage vs self-preservation.

How to Reason Through a Dilemma

Philosophers use structured steps to work through difficult choices. You can use these steps too.

1

Identify the dilemma clearly

What is the exact choice you face? Who is affected? What are the two or more options?

2

Identify the values in conflict

What values or principles are pulling you in different directions? (e.g. loyalty vs honesty, safety vs freedom)

3

Consider consequences

For each option: who benefits, who is harmed, and how serious are the harms?

4

Apply the ethical frameworks

What would a consequentialist say? A duty-based thinker? A virtue ethicist? Do they agree or disagree?

5

Make a justified decision

Choose an option and explain why — using your reasoning, not just your feelings. Acknowledge the trade-offs.

Key Vocabulary

Ethical Dilemma

A situation where every available option conflicts with a moral value, making the right choice unclear.

Consequentialism

The ethical view that the right action is the one that produces the best outcome for the most people.

Deontology

The ethical view that some actions are right or wrong in themselves, based on rules and duties — regardless of consequences.

Virtue Ethics

The ethical view that focuses on character — asking what a person of good character (honest, courageous, compassionate) would do.

Moral Reasoning

The process of thinking carefully about right and wrong, weighing different values, and justifying a decision.

Values

Beliefs about what matters most — such as honesty, fairness, loyalty, compassion, or freedom.

Knowledge Check

Choose the best answer for each question.

Question 1

What makes a situation an ethical dilemma?

Every option conflicts with at least one moral value There is one obvious right answer The problem involves science, not ethics Only one person is affected by the choice

Question 2

A consequentialist approach to ethics focuses on...

Following rules regardless of what happens The character and virtues of the person acting The outcomes or results of an action Religious teachings about right and wrong

Question 3

In the Trolley Problem, pulling the lever to save five people by diverting the trolley is BEST described as which kind of ethical reasoning?

Virtue ethics — because it shows courage There is no ethical reasoning involved Deontological — rules say you must pull the lever Consequentialist — five lives saved is a better outcome than one

Question 4

Which of these is an example of a genuine ethical dilemma?

Should I tell the truth to protect someone, or lie to avoid hurting them? Should I do my homework or watch TV? Should I eat an apple or a banana? Should I wear red or blue today?

Question 5

Virtue ethics asks: "What would a person of good character do?" Which of the following virtues is MOST relevant to speaking up about wrongdoing even when it is difficult?

Greed Laziness Courage Indifference

Ethical Dilemmas