Ethical dilemma

Published on 24 Nov 2025

An ethical dilemma is a situation where two or more values are in conflict with each other and each decision violates one or more ethical values. It involves choosing between the decision that is better or the one that is doing less harm.

Types of Ethical dilemmas

• Personal Cost Ethical Dilemmas: It occurs when compliance with ethical conduct results in a substantial personal cost to the decision maker.

• Example: Satyendra Dubey IES who brought to light the financial irregularities in ‘Golden Quadrilateral Project’ endangered his own life in bringing out the scam. 

• Right-versus-Right Ethical Dilemmas: It arises from situations of two or more conflicting sets of bona fide moral values.

• Example: Ethical dilemmas concerning War, Euthanasia, Death penalty etc.

• Conjoint Ethical Dilemmas: It occurs when the decision-maker is exposed to a combination of personal cost Ethical Dilemma and Right vs. Right Ethical Dilemma.

• Example: Situation where continuation of pregnancy will result in the death of the mother but the mother is against abortion.

Tags:
Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude

Keywords:
Ethical dilemma Types of Ethical dilemmas Personal Cost Ethical Dilemmas Right versus Right Ethical Dilemmas Conjoint Ethical Dilemma

Syllabus:
General Studies Paper 4

Topics:
Public Service Values