Christian has been dealing with a situation at his business that now requires him to choose between two (or more) acceptable, but frequently opposing, alternatives that are important to different groups. When his wife sees the distraught look on Christian’s face, she asks him what is wrong. Christian tells her that he is right in the middle of:
an ethical dilemma.
a consumerism debate.
a social enterprise.
evaluating his triple bottom line.
an ethical dilemma
Christian is right in the middle of an ethical dilemma. An ethical dilemma occurs when a person is faced with a situation where they must make a decision between two or more options, but each option conflicts with their moral values or beliefs. In Christian's case, he is dealing with alternatives that are acceptable but frequently opposing, which suggests that he is grappling with conflicting ethical considerations.
To gain a better understanding of what an ethical dilemma is, it is helpful to explore the concepts of ethics and dilemmas. Ethics refers to a set of moral principles that guide individuals' behavior and decision-making. Dilemmas, on the other hand, are situations where a difficult choice must be made between two or more alternatives.
In this particular scenario, Christian's business situation requires him to make a decision that is important to different groups. This implies that he is likely considering the impact of his decision on multiple stakeholders, such as his employees, customers, or the community. It is not an easy decision because the different options may have positive outcomes for some groups but negative consequences for others.
Christian's wife notices his distress and asks him what is wrong. In response, Christian explains that he is currently facing an ethical dilemma. This could be an opportunity for his wife to provide support, discuss the situation further, or help him consider the different perspectives and potential consequences involved in his decision-making process.