Moral Dilemma Essay -- Philosophy Essays

Moral Dilemma As human beings, we are forced to accept the inevitability of being unwillingly confronted with situations that test the strength of our morality and character. In the midst of deep moral conflict we become immensely introspective and we follow our intuition with the hopes of it guiding us towards the morally correct decision. However, how can we be sure that we have acted morally in a situation that is so morbid and perverse that our intuition is completely torn? This is the dilemma that is faced by the mother who is given a terrible choice by a Nazi officer: either the officer will kill all three of her children, or the mother must kill one in order preserve the lives of the other two. In this situation, guilt remorse and intense emotional pain are unavoidable, thus the mother is forced to reflect upon her intrinsic morals and values to guide her choice, however horrific it may be. In beginning to tackle this terrible dilemma, a fundamental aspect of this situation must first be realized: it is a woman who is faced with this crippling decision. Although subtle, there is an insinuation behind this that will ultimately play a large role in the determination of the final decision. In assigning the moral responsibility to a woman, and more specifically a mother, there is an implication that a different and distinct type of moral deliberation comes into play. In a study performed by psychologist Carol Gillian, it was found that the moral reasoning of a group of women was "typically more embedded in a context of particular others than was the reasoning or a comparable group of men" (Held 724). When we focus on the experience of women we are "able to see a set of moral concerns becoming ... ...nt emotion as a part of morality, we must regard every action in the same context, and this is clearly an impossibility for us as human beings. We appreciate and understand that we are all practical, emotional beings as opposed to rational, calculating beings. Thus, we allow our emotions to influence what actions we deem as morally acceptable and it is only natural that they should be an integral part of moral deliberation. In any situation as atrocious as this, the correct line of moral action is not always clear. However, in considering both emotion and reason, it is possible to reach a moral decision. Sometimes when we are put in situations against our will our intuition is torn and making the right decision can be difficult. The only thing we can do in these situations is turn introspectively to our feelings and reason, and understand that we are only human.