A dilemma is a problem with two possible outcomes. Both outcomes are possible but not necessarily acceptable. Its options are called "horns of the problem". It is a cliché term that can be used to describe a dilemma. However, it helps distinguish it from other predicaments. A dilemma can sometimes be classified as a moral or legal problem.
False dilemmas
A false dilemma, also known under the names false binary and false dichotomy is an informal fallacy which limits one's options because of an untrue statement. This fallacy is very common in decision-making. A false dilemma may be difficult to spot because it is based on an invalid premise rather than a valid one. However, it's important to recognize it and avoid it wherever possible.
False dilemmas are helpful for children because they can simplify difficult decisions and situations. For example, instead of asking your child which shirt he wants to wear, ask him to choose between two shirts. Your child will be empowered to make a choice by you asking him.
Conflict-ofInterest cases
When two or more people have conflicting interests, a conflict of interest can occur. This situation can prevent someone from making an unbiased decision. An example of this is an employee who bribes his employer to purchase inferior goods. This could put him or her employer in conflict. It can also occur when someone must answer to two groups, and serving one of them would hurt the interests of the other.
Anyone involved in an organisation can have a conflict-of-interest. Board members, for instance, are required to act in the best interest the organization. This duty should be above personal gain or other special interests.
Symmetrical cases
Symmetrical dilemmas arise in cases of conflict between competing moral rules. In such situations, the agent's role-related obligations will take precedence over his/her general obligations. This means that he or she can choose to fulfill more than one of the roles. This isn't a common situation as different situations may require different precepts.
In symmetrical cases, the moral quandary arises when the agent must make a decision between actions that would benefit or harm the other party. These cases are often dismissed because they don't provide an honest reason for the agent to act. Randomization does provide no reason for an agent to act. Randomization can be justified on the basis of the risk to authorship that is associated with arbitrariness.
Moral and interpersonal conflicts
Interpersonal moral disputes are conflicts that arise between individuals regarding moral and ethical questions. These conflicts are usually caused by conflicting personal values. Factual conflicts can be solved by checking with a reliable source. Value conflicts, however, are much more difficult to resolve. This type of conflict occurs when personal beliefs and values differ drastically from each other.
Two types of interpersonal moral conflicts can be distinguished: world-imposed and self imposed. The actions of the agent can create self-imposed dilemmas. For example, he may make two incompatible promises and attend two different events. World-imposed problems, however, are created by outsiders and cannot be solved directly by the agent. This distinction is crucial for moral theories.