Methods for dealing with moral dilemmas

1. Utilitarian Views

1.1. Act in a way such that the overall happiness to all is the greatest

1.2. Based on consequences of actions

1.3. Morally right action is the action that produces the most good.

2. A discursive activity

2.1. Explore all aspects of an idea then consider all the problems associated with the idea

2.2. Thorough exploration of as many perspectives as possible

2.3. May result in a defensible and well-reasoned view or more confusion. We can appreciate the ambiguity we have discovered and the philosophizing done to achieve it.

3. Moral Dilemmas affect everyone

4. Deontological Views

4.1. Divine Command Theory

4.1.1. An action is right if and only if God approves of the actions.

4.1.2. An action is wrong if and only if God disapproves of the action

5. Cultural Relativism

5.1. It is right for a person, A, to perform an action if and only if the A's culture approves of A performing that action.

5.2. It is wrong for A to perform the action if and only if A's culture disapproves of A performing the action.

6. Use a dialectical approach

6.1. Explore the issue from as many perspectives as possible

6.2. Do not restrict your analysis to just a Kantian, utilitarian, pluralist, or deontological approach

6.3. Allows us to move beyond a straightforward approach and see the dilemma from all view points

7. Kantian Views

7.1. Respect both our own autonomy and the autonomy of other persons

7.2. We cannot force others to act as we want them to act or change their goals because of what we want.

8. Natural Law Theory

8.1. Actions are right to the extent that they promote human good

8.2. Actions are wrong to the extent that they frustrate human goods