A dilemma is a problem with two possible outcomes. Both outcomes are possible but not necessarily acceptable. These are sometimes called the "horns and the dilemma". Although it is a cliché, the term helps to distinguish a dilemma and 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. The fallacy is common in decision-making. False dilemmas can be hard to spot as they are based on invalid premises rather than valid ones. However, it is important to be aware of the problem and avoid it as much as possible.
False dilemmas may be beneficial for children, especially if they are used to simplify decisions or scenarios. Instead of asking your child about his shirt choice, suggest that he choose between two shirts. Doing so will give your child the ability to make a decision.
Conflict-of-Interest situations
A conflict of interest arises when two parties have competing interests. This situation can prevent someone from making an unbiased decision. A worker who bribes an employer to buy inferior goods may be against the best interests of his or her employer. It can also occur when people must answer to more than one group, and the interests of one would be hurt by the actions of the others.
An individual or group can become involved in a conflict if they have conflicts of interest. Board members, in particular, have a responsibility to act in best interests of the organisation. This obligation should not be placed above personal gain and special interests.
Symmetrical cases
When moral rules conflict, there are often symmetrical problems. In these cases, the agent's obligations related to his or her role will prevail over his or her general obligations. The agent may choose to take on more than one job. This isn't a common situation as different situations may require different precepts.
In symmetrical cases, the moral dilemma arises when the agent is confronted with a choice between actions that would harm or benefit the other party. These situations are often dismissed as unimportant or spurious because they don’t give an honest reason for what the agent did. Randomization is not a legitimate reason to act. The argument for randomization is based on an account of the threat to authorship associated with arbitrariness.
Moral conflicts between people
Interpersonal moral conflicts are the conflicts that arise between individuals over moral and ethical matters. These conflicts can be caused by differences in the personal values between the individuals. Factual conflicts can be solved by checking with a reliable source. Value conflicts, however, are much more difficult to resolve. This is when beliefs and values are fundamentally different.
You can divide moral conflicts within a relationship into two types: world-imposed and self-imposed. The agent's actions create self-imposed problems, such a promise to make two things incompatible or attend two separate events. The world-imposed dilemmas on the other side are created by others and can't be solved by the agent. This distinction is critical for moral theories.