Approaching Ethical Dilemmas

Look at all these ethical dilemmas we face! An ethical dilemma is different from a regular problem or decision, because it is not clear what is right and what is wrong. That is what makes these questions so hard to answer, and these choices so hard to make.

As you look through these dilemmas submitted by other students and the suggestions left in the comments, see if you can spot signs of specific approaches to ethical problem solving.

1. Weigh pros and cons: utilitarian approach.
2. Protect everyone's rights: the rights approach.
3. Make sure you are being fair: the fairness and justice approach
4. Consider what is good for the whole community: the common good approach.
5. Do what is right and what will make you a better person: the virtue approach.

In the course of this unit, we have described our own values, considered Hawaiian values and ethics (lawena kupono), and looked at different ways to approach ethical dilemmas

. I hope that these tools will allow us to be more ethical, moral and thoughtful people.