What Are Some Examples of Moral Decisions?
Examples of moral decisions can range from large quandaries like whether to legalize abortion or go to war, through to everyday decisions like keeping money found in the street or using a neighbor’s Wi-Fi without them knowing. Various philosophers have discussed how to approach moral decisions, including Kant, Aristotle and Jeremy Bentham.
Some examples of moral decisions include:
- Whether to tell someone when their spouse is flirting with another person
- Taking credit for someone else’s work
- Cheating on an exam or assignment
- Deciding whether to tell someone that their outfit does not suit them
- Whether it is okay to laugh at a joke that is sexist
- Decisions that could discriminate in some way or show a section of society favoritism
- Planning to go to war against another country
- Using contraceptives or having an abortion may present a moral dilemma for religious individuals.
Whether or not a decision is a moral one depends on how the person sees morality and the approach they take to the decision making process. Jeremy Bentham proposed that people should make a decision that presents the least harm and the greatest benefit. However, when applying this to decisions that affect large sections of society they still may not be moral. In contrast, Kant stated that everyone has the freedom to make their own decisions, but that they have the right to not be injured also. Aristotle believed that decisions should treat everyone with the same equal rights. Another factor influencing morality is religion, which can make people see issues differently.
