Moral Dilemmas Research Articles

Exemplarist medical ethics

The field of medical ethics, such as the discipline of ethics in general, has traditionally focused on moral dilemmas and quandaries at the expense of ‘everyday’ moral issues. The methodologies,...

Finishing the “unfinished revolution”?: College‐educated mothers' resistance to intensive mothering

AbstractIntensive mothering, a classed and gendered practice optimally performed by stay‐at‐home mothers, is a dominant parenting ideology, particularly in developed societies with wide disparities in wealth. Ironically, in these societies, women tend to be well educated and have good employment prospects that are expected to free them from domestic obligations. Facing competing expectations shaped by the institutions of work and the family, how do college‐educated mothers consider ending or limiting their participation in the workforce or holding jobs while resolving the moral dilemma of being both a worker and a mother? We compared 33 college‐educated Hong Kong mothers engaged in different professions and constructed typologies that describe how intersecting ideologies of mothering and work shape work‐family arrangements. We paid special attention to mothers with strong commitment to their work, but with different ideologies about mothering. Some espouse the ideology of intensive mothering. Their belief in gender essentialism proved exhausting for them, both at work and at home. While away from home, these mothers supervised domestic helpers from their workplaces. Other women value their professions as emblematic of their identity as the perfect mother—an integrated form of mothering, thus feeling no guilt for delegating childcare responsibilities. We argue that given the entrenched gender inequality in workplaces and men's slow progress in doing their share of domestic work, the emergence of integrated mothering both rhetorically and in practice reflects women's striving to bring the “unfinished revolution” closer to the finish line.

Moral judgments under uncertainty: risk, ambiguity and commission bias

Previous research on moral dilemmas has mainly focused on decisions made under conditions of probabilistic certainty. We investigated the impact of uncertainty on the preference for action (killing one individual to save five people) and inaction (saving one but allowing five people to die) in moral dilemmas. We reported two experimental studies that varied the framing (gain vs loss), levels of risk (probability of gain and loss) and levels of ambiguity (imprecise probability information) in the choice to save five individuals by sacrificing one. We found that participants preferred actions with uncertainty (risk/ambiguity) over inaction. Specifically, we found that participants preferred actions with precise probability information (risk) over inaction, and they preferred actions with modest or high levels of ambiguity over actions with precise probabilities, especially when moral dilemmas had a loss frame. We also observed commission bias in Study 2. We discussed the implications for research in moral decision-making.

School admissions and educational justice: Parents' moral dilemmas facing the new Chilean school admission system

In the context of the increased interest in social justice within education policy debates, this article addresses the new justice-oriented school admission system implemented in Chile. Considering the critical role of parents in education policy, we explore families’ negotiations about the new school admission system, focusing on the moral dilemmas they experience when confronted with changes in the rules that organize the distribution of school seats and the notions of educational justice they adhere to. We draw on interviews with 80 families from different social classes and belonging to five regions of Chile who were choosing a school under the new school admission system. Our findings underline that—while families tend to agree with the principle of equal formal opportunities in the school admission field—the reform brings in a set of moral dilemmas and competing notions of justice that encompass its different components. Based on these findings, we shed light on the distance between policy intention and interpretation, and between abstract conceptualizations of justice in educational policies and what counts as just policies in families’ views. In addition, we outline a set of implications for justice-oriented reforms worldwide.

The time course of moral decision making in bilinguals' native and foreign language

Previous work has shown that moral decision making depends on whether moral dilemmas are presented in the native or a foreign language (Foreign Language effect). In that work, the focus was on bilinguals' final decision, but the tasks used, failed to capture the processes involved over time. The aim of this study was to examine the time course of moral decision making in bilinguals' native and foreign language prior to and after their moral decision. In a visual-world eye-tracking experiment, 82 Dutch-English bilinguals listened to 20 moral dilemmas (e.g., would you kill one to save five?) in their native or foreign language, while looking at two pictures containing key people involved in the dilemmas. These pictures illustrated (1) the person/people that is/are sacrificed, and (2) the person/people that is/are not sacrificed, depending on the participants' decision which was measured with yes/no-questions. The Foreign Language effect was replicated for the decisions on the personal dilemmas. Importantly, the eye gaze data showed that in the native language, listeners looked at the person who they did not sacrifice, whereas in the foreign language, they looked at the people who they sacrificed. A speculative explanation is that bilinguals might have experienced guilt in the native language, and therefore focused attention on the person they did not sacrifice, while in the foreign language they might have experienced less guilt because they focused attention on the people they sacrificed. More research is needed to understand the influence of factors such as emotion reduction and cognitive load on moral decision making.

To bridge or not to bridge: Moral Judgement in Cocaine Use Disorders, a case-control study on human morality

ABSTRACTBackgroundIn the “Dual-Process theory”, morality is characterized by the interaction between an automatic-emotional process, mediated by the Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC) and linked to personal-deontological decisions, and a rational-conscious one, mediated by the Dorso-Lateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC) and linked to impersonal-utilitarian decisions. These areas are altered by chronic use of cocaine, with a possible impact on moral decision-making.ObjectiveTo evaluate the difference between a group of Cocaine Use Disorder (CUD) patients and a control group in moral decision-making.MethodsSubjects with CUD were compared to an equal-sized healthy group regarding their moral decision-making. Trolley and Footbridge Moral Dilemmas were administered to each group. The quality of the answer (yes or no) and the time needed to answer were recorded.ResultsThe recruited group includes 72 subjects, 36 with CUD and 36 healthy subjects (average age of 39.51 ± 9.89). In the Trolley dilemma, almost all the subjects (97.3%) answered “yes”, while in the Footbridge dilemma CUD subjects answered “yes” more often (52.7%) than the healthy group (19.4%).ConclusionFor strong emotional dilemmas (Footbridge), cocaine users answered “yes” with a higher frequency compared to healthy subjects, highlighting a wider utilitarian tendency in decision-making and a poor emotional participation.

Moral Case Deliberation in Dutch Prisons: Experienced Outcomes and the Moral Learning of Prison Staff

AbstractWe present a study about an ethics support instrument, Moral Case Deliberation (MCD), which is used to support and further professionalize Dutch prison staff. MCD can facilitate prison staff in dealing with moral dilemmas from practice. We present an embedded mixed-methods study on the experienced outcomes of 16 teams participating in both single and in series of MCD sessions. Prison staff and MCD facilitators completed evaluation forms (n = 871 by staff, and n = 122 by facilitators) after participating in a single MCD session (n = 131). Staff filled out another evaluation form (n = 149) after participating in a series of 10 MCD sessions. Our multilevel quantitative analyses show overall positive outcomes, with significant differences between professional disciplines. Prison staff, e.g., reported a better understanding of the discussed moral dilemma and the related perspectives of colleagues. The qualitative thematic content analysis of the experienced outcomes of single MCD sessions resulted in 8 outcome categories, e.g., improved moral awareness, awareness of responsibilities and limitations in decision-making, and feeling empowered to address issues. The experienced outcomes of MCD provide some insights in the process of fostering moral learning of prison staff; staff gained moral awareness, and improved their perspective-taking and the ability to better control their frustrations and emotions. Further research should focus on studying the impact of MCD on moral decision-making in the day-to-day practice of prison staff and on what the organization can learn from the MCD sessions.

It would be bad if compatibilism were true; therefore, it isn't

AbstractI want to suggest that it would be bad if compatibilism were true, and that this gives us good reason to think that it isn't. This is, you might think, an outlandish argument, and the considerable burden of this paper is to convince you otherwise. There are two key elements at stake in this argument. The first is that it would be ‐ in a distinctive sense to be explained ‐ bad if compatibilism were true. The thought here is that compatibilism ultimately presents us with a picture on which, in principle, powerful manipulators can effectively guarantee that finite moral agents should become blameworthy. To my mind, this isn't just false ‐ though I think that it is ‐ it is also such that it would be bad (unfortunate, undesirable…) if it were true. The second is that the fact that it would be ‐ in this sense ‐ bad if true gives us reason to think that it isn't. It may be bad that there is no afterlife. But that, in itself, hardly gives us reason to think that there is an afterlife. That is true, but ‐ as others before me have suggested ‐ when the object of the relevant badness is morality itself, the inference seems secure. A more general aim of the paper is to investigate the nature of this very form of argument in itself, and I compare my argument (inter alia) to a recent argument from Sayre–McCord against the possibility of genuine moral dilemmas.

Xenotransplantation - current social, ethical, religious, and legal aspects

Introduction: Xenotransplantology, the field of transplantation involving organs or tissues between different species, holds great promise for addressing the global organ shortage crisis. However, the development of new technologies without proper legislative preparation raises significant moral and ethical considerations. This paper provides an overview of the current state of xenotransplantology, highlighting its revolutionary potential alongside the moral dilemmas it entails. Aim of the study: The aim of this study is to assess current social, ethical, religious, and legal trends regarding the issue of xenotransplantation. Materials and methods: To obtain up-to-date information concerning trends in xenotransplantation, a review of the PubMed and Google Scholar databases, along with the latest legislative reports in both Europe and Poland, was performed. Conclusions: Firstly, the authors briefly report on the current situation concerning transplantology and the widely spread organ donor crisis. Next, the issue of species boundaries and the moral status of non-human animals is addressed. The assessment of ethical implications of utilizing animals as organ donors is examined, along with the legal acts regulating this issue. Moreover, the authors attempt to evaluate the cultural and religious differences related to this concern. Furthermore, this study discusses the allocation and distribution of xenotransplants, considering issues of justice, fairness, and access to this innovative medical technology. Lastly, the paper delves into the risks and uncertainties associated with xenotransplantation, including the possibility of cross-species disease transmission and intensified course of organ rejection disease.

A Qualitative Study on the Negative Impacts of Digital Games on Moral-Spiritual Development: The Case of Judgment Day: Angel of God

Games, which are a means of discovering and recognizing life for children, are a basic need. With the developments in technology, digital games have emerged as an alternative to traditional games. The new playmates of children, who are the new inhabitants of the digital world, are also digital games. Although many studies have been conducted on the negative effects of digital games on children, there is limited research on the effects of digital games on children's religious-moral development. In the study, it is aimed to address the negative effects and possible risks of some games in the simulation category on the basic developmental areas, especially the religious and moral development of children. In this context, the game Judgment Day: Angel of God, which is the most played by children in the simulation games category, was examined, and the negative effects and risks of the game on the basic development areas, especially the moral and religious development of children, were revealed. The reason why Judgment Day: Angel of God was chosen is that it has a large number of downloads in Turkey, its interface, its drawings, it is designed for children in terms of ease of playing, the game does not require hand-eye coordination or concentration, it is possible with every move/decision (correct-decision) in the game. It is highly preferred by children because it can be passed to higher levels by earning points (whether wrong or not), and it can be played without getting stuck in the levels. Document analysis, one of the qualitative research methods, was used in accordance with the structure of the study. The game has been played to the highest levels, and its content has been systematically analyzed. Since the Turkish version of the game has been examined, its dimension related to religious development has been discussed in the context of Islam. The themes and content in the game were analyzed in terms of negative effects and risks on basic development areas, especially religious-moral development. presented under three headings. It has been determined that the directive, premise, symbol, and spatial features in the play (old male god figure, angel, heaven and hell drawings, sending people to heaven or hell by deciding on the name of God, etc.) are diametrically opposed to the principles of creed in Islam. However, it has been determined that the content and visuals in the game contain elements that will negatively affect their moral development, and that constantly repeated moral dilemmas (killing the spouse with cancer to avoid suffering, stealing flowers from the cemetery, killing people to release animals, etc.) can cause moral indifference in children. Finally, the presence of many instructions, pictures, and items that will negatively affect sexual development, self-care skills, and social-emotional development (playboy, prostitute, sexually explicit items, crime, and rude behavior, gay rights, etc.) has been revealed. It is thought that the religious, moral, social, self-care, and sexual development areas of children who are constantly exposed to negative content, items, and themes in the game will be negatively affected.

Moral Dilemmas and Negotiations in a Relationship: A Performance Study

A Separation, a family drama, reflects the struggle and negotiations within people's life. The film revolves around a middle-class Tehran couple's disagreement over where and how to live and move further leads to the growing conflict. Nader and Simin's partial split becomes only one of the reasons that push the whole family into a problem. The story quietly and cleverly combines elements of family melodrama and legal thriller. With a textual analysis, this paper addresses the performance strategies of characters, besides, the movie captures the frustrations of city life; it reflects not only the modern Iranian life but every everyday life of the globe. So, this paper studies the film from Ervin Goffman's dramaturgical approach as it finely embraces human-restored behavior that includes conflict, relationships, secrets, and other elements in everyday life. It also emphasizes the way people present themselves in front and backstage of their everyday life. However, it displays peoples’ performance in their daily relationships and how they react toward it. Furthermore, this paper depicts and reflects that every family adheres to moral dilemmas and relationship negotiations, yet it is complex and multi-faceted.

Transmission of moral values between generations of families in conditions of social and economic vulnerability

Introduction: this study analysed the transmission of values between generations in groups of people in unfavourable economic and social conditions. It was carried out with grandparents, their children, and their grandchildren who are residents of a peripheral neighbourhood of the capital of São Paulo and live in restricted economic conditions and under the daily impact of violence. The study sought to determine how the passage of values between generations is processed, in view of the exposure to conditions of deprivation to which these people are subjected, while they carry the obligation to ensure the minimum for their children but do not have the necessary resources. This raises the question of how it is possible to affirm a notion of right and wrong within this social framework. The theoretical basis of this study was psychoanalysis, using the concepts of Identification, Ego Ideal, Ideal Ego, Oedipus, and the dynamics underlying the insertion of the father in the Oedipal triad. Methods: interviews were conducted through group meetings to discuss issues related to morals. These discussions involved the three generational components of three families. Different arrangements were made that involved the same generational group in an initial meeting and, in another meeting, the mixture of different generations and different families responding to pre-established themes that involved moral dilemmas focused on the daily cultural and social life of these families. Results: the grandfathers were ambiguous because they have a reference to a law of morals transcending space and time. Parents, realising the ambiguity of these grandparents in relation to reality, reformulate these moral questions, basing their convictions on a law that is established within the contingencies of everyday life and, therefore, changeable. The adolescent grandchildren perceive this ambiguity in the parents and in their speech. Conclusion: There is greater identification of moral standards among grandchildren and grandparents than between children and parents. The interviewed parents were ambiguous in the way they act and speak, with the transgenerational reproduction model being more guided between grandchildren and grandparents than in the sequential temporal generational sequence.

Nilai-nilai Pendidikan Akhlak dalam Novel Bidadari Bermata Bening Karya Habiburrahman El Shirazy

Islamic education is inextricably linked to the religion's name, core principles, and laws governing daily life. The persistent moral dilemma is thought to be something that education can resolve. Morality and religion are inextricably linked in Islamic education and cannot be separated. The principles of moral education can be found not only in formal education but also in extracurricular pursuits like attending mosque sermons, watching movies, and learning about Islamic educational principles from other literary works like novels. The book Bidadari Bermata Bening served as the research's primary source of data. This study tries to clearly identify the moral principles that Allah SWT upholds in Habiburrahman El Shirazy's novel Bidadari. This research approach is hermeneutic and qualitative. This kind of investigation is done at libraries. The findings of this study include moral principles that Allah SWT should uphold. These principles include asking Allah SWT for pardon, abstaining from immoral behavior, showing gratitude to Allah SWT, and developing positive attitudes toward Allah SWT.

Exploring social media influencers’ moral dilemmas through role theory

ABSTRACT This study examines how social media influencers (SMIs) perceive their role in the complex relationships between brands, followers, and society, the moral dilemmas they face, and how they deal with them. The results show that SMIs find themselves in different roles depending on which stakeholders’ expectations they fulfil. Using role theory as a theoretical framework, we find that the conflicts between extended expectations (commitment, authenticity, and responsibility) lead to various moral dilemmas: non-disclosure, withholding negative experiences, lack of empathy, promotion of products without genuine experience, sharing opinions on socially relevant issues, and promotion of harmful products. Strategies for resolving these dilemmas which help SMIs manage their complex moral obligations include: spotlighting a role, downplaying a role, customizing a role, and resorting to a role.

Artificial Intelligence and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein: A Comparative Analysis of Creation, Morality and Responsibility

In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a revolutionary force that continues to shape various aspects of our lives. From transforming industries to redefining how we interact with machines, AI's pervasive influence has captured the collective imagination of modern society. However, as we marvel at the wonders of AI's capabilities, it becomes crucial to pause and reflect on the ethical and moral implications of creating intelligent machines. Mary Shelley's magnum opus, "Frankenstein," published nearly two centuries ago, remains an enduring cautionary tale about the perils of unchecked ambition and the consequences of playing god. The narrative of Victor Frankenstein's relentless pursuit of creating life, only to be haunted by the unforeseen horrors of his creation, has resonated across generations. This tale of hubris, moral dilemmas, and the intricate relationships between creator and creation continues to transcend time, finding a striking resonance in contemporary discussions on AI and its potential implications. The research article endeavors to delve into the parallels between AI and "Frankenstein," unraveling the profound ethical dilemmas faced by AI developers, policymakers, and society at large. By drawing upon the cautionary lessons embedded within Shelley's classic tale, we aim to extract timeless wisdom that can guide us in the responsible and humane development of AI technologies. While AI holds the potential to revolutionize our lives positively, the dark echoes of Victor Frankenstein's missteps serve as a stark reminder of the need for ethical frameworks and interdisciplinary collaboration to ensure that AI remains a powerful force for good.

Family Caregivers as Employers of Migrant Live-In Care Workers: Experiences and Policy Implications

ABSTRACT As policymakers globally recognize aging in place as the preferred option for most adults, there is a growing need to supplement family or informal caregiving for frail older adults with formal homecare services, particularly for those who require 24/7 care due to significant physical and/or cognitive impairment. The core objective of this qualitative study was to explore family members’ experiences in employing live-in care workers, particularly the nature of their engagement and the quality of their relationships with these care workers. Our analysis of semi-structured interviews with 35 family caregivers revealed four themes: 1) challenges in acquiring support and developing dependency; 2) negotiation of roles, responsibilities, and moral dilemmas; 3) shifting emotions between trust and suspicion; and 4) role confusion, expectations, and disappointments. The study suggests that families might benefit from formal guidance regarding fostering and maintaining positive relationships in the homecare environment. This paper provides nuanced knowledge that may inform the development of such interventions.

One strike and you’re a lout: Cherished values increase the stringency of moral character attributions

Moral dilemmas are inescapable in daily life, and people must often choose between two desirable character traits, like being a diligent employee or being a devoted parent. These moral dilemmas arise because people hold competing moral values that sometimes conflict. Furthermore, people differ in which values they prioritize, so we do not always approve of how others resolve moral dilemmas. How are we to think of people who sacrifice one of our most cherished moral values for a value that we consider less important? The “Good True Self Hypothesis” predicts that we will reliably project our most strongly held moral values onto others, even after these people lapse. In other words, people who highly value generosity should consistently expect others to be generous, even after they act frugally in a particular instance. However, reasoning from an error-management perspective instead suggests the “Moral Stringency Hypothesis,” which predicts that we should be especially prone to discredit the moral character of people who deviate from our most deeply cherished moral ideals, given the potential costs of affiliating with people who do not reliably adhere to our core moral values. In other words, people who most highly value generosity should be quickest to stop considering others to be generous if they act frugally in a particular instance. Across two studies conducted on Prolific (N = 966), we found consistent evidence that people weight moral lapses more heavily when rating others’ membership in highly cherished moral categories, supporting the Moral Stringency Hypothesis. In Study 2, we examined a possible mechanism underlying this phenomenon. Although perceptions of hypocrisy played a role in moral updating, personal moral values and subsequent judgments of a person’s potential as a good cooperative partner provided the clearest explanation for changes in moral character attributions. Overall, the robust tendency toward moral stringency carries significant practical and theoretical implications.

Beyond the consult question: Nurse ethicists as architects of moral spaces

Nurse Ethicists bring a unique perspective to clinical ethics consultation. This perspective provides an appreciation of ethical tensions that will exist beyond the consult question into the moral space of patient care. These tensions exist even when an ethically preferable plan of action is identified. Ethically appropriate courses of action can still lead to moral dilemmas for others. The nurse ethicist provides a lens well suited to identify and respond to these dilemmas. The nurse–patient relationship is the ethical foundation of nursing practice and this relational ontology is well suited to addressing ethical dilemmas that exist prior to and beyond the initial consult question. This paper will describe one nurse ethicist’s phronetic and pragmatic approach to a clinical ethics consult elucidated through feminist ethics and systems thinking. This paper will describe the theoretical basis for this method, present a case, and describe how this consultation approach provides a rich analysis based around relationships and responsibilities that also highlights the important ethical tensions within the social structure that exists around the patient and continue after the consult question is answered.

Revising the Taiwan Code of Ethics for Nurses

The 2005 revision of the code of ethics for nurses has been in effect in Taiwan for more than 17 years. Although this code has been smoothly implemented during this time, changing social expectations and ethical perspectives, advancements in science and technology, and the evolution of the nurse-patient relationship suggest this code should be once again be updated. This study was conducted to suggest revisions to the Taiwan code of ethics for nurses necessary to meet current needs and address social and medical care environment trends. A multivariate research approach was adopted. The classification of the code of ethics for nurses norms in six international nursing organizations and evidence-based ethical and philosophical thinking literature were referenced, with the main notification demands incorporated into the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Nursing Workplace Controversy Reporting Platform. After drafting the aspects and provisions of Taiwan code of ethics for nurses norms, expert review procedures such as focus groups, Delphi expert consensus, and public forums were conducted. After three expert focus group discussion rounds, a structured questionnaire was completed, and 50 Delphi experts in six fields completed the online questionnaire. After the second consensus round, the importance and clarity of the 47 ethical code provisions in the four aspects were determined with 100% and 99.8% agreement reached, indicating no significant difference in scores between the multidisciplinary expert group and the ethical code. The resulting revision proposed for the Taiwan code of ethics for nurses includes: nursing staff and care recipients (14 provisions), nursing staff and practice (13 provisions), nursing staff and the profession (10 provisions), and nursing staff and society (10 provisions). In terms of education, the revised Taiwan code of ethics for nurses should be integrated into the nursing education curriculum of nursing colleges and used as teaching material for the continuing education of nurses. In terms of policy, these norms should be included as evaluation benchmarks and inspection items for hospitals. In addition, the attention and support of senior managers in institutions must be secured and a handling protocol for moral dilemma cases and related consultation mechanisms must be established. Nursing supervisors should be guided to develop the ability to address these dilemmas to help foster a positive workplace and a respectful team atmosphere. All professional groups should participate actively in promoting issues related to nursing ethics, organize seminars and continuing education activities, and make the revised Taiwan code of ethics for nurses and learning cases available online for reference by nursing staff nationwide.

Several Categories of Large Language Models (LLMs): A Short Survey

Abstract: Large Language Models (LLMs) have become effective tools for natural language process-ing and have been used in many different fields. This essay offers a succinct summary of various LLM subcategories. The survey emphasizes recent developments and efforts made for various LLM kinds, including task-based financial LLMs, multilingual language LLMs, biomedical and clinical LLMs, vision language LLMs, and code language models. The survey gives a general summary of the methods, attributes, datasets, transformer models, and comparison metrics applied in each category of LLMs. Furthermore, it highlights unresolved problems in the field of developing chatbots and virtual assistants, such as boosting natural language processing, enhancing chatbot intelligence, and resolving moral and legal dilemmas. The purpose of this study is to provide readers, developers, academics, and users interested in LLM-based chatbots and virtual intelligent assistant technologies with use full information and future directions.