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 March 2005
Handling Ethical Dilemmas
Socrates was right! Ethical dilemmas are
inevitable.
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Should I tell the truth to my wife when we are going out the door
and she asks how I like her new outfit or should I make her feel
good by telling her how good it looks on her?
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Should my friend place his aged mother in a
home where she will receive outstanding care or follow her wishes
and take her into his home causing a great hardship on family
members?
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Should my neighbor extend the life of her
twelve-year-old golden retriever or mercifully relieve the dog’s
suffering by having her put to sleep?
Ethical dilemmas result when something good must be
given up or some bad thing happens no matter which choice we make.
How should we prepare to make wise choices?
- Think
for yourself. While parents, friends, and religious beliefs
influence our values and the choices we make, nothing should replace
rational thought and experience in our moral and ethical
development.
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Take responsibility for your actions and be able to give reasons for
choices you make, especially to yourself. Understanding your
reasons and assuming responsibility for your actions makes you more
confident and comfortable with your decisions.
- Always
do the right things for the right reasons. Both actions and
intentions are important. Taking both into account will help
you make sound ethical decisions.
Do all three things listed above and you will successfully handle
most ethical dilemmas you face.
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John Kline
Montgomery, Alabama
jkline@klinespeak.com
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March 2005 - Handling Ethical Dilemmas
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