Moral Dilemmas and Christian Ethics

Abstract

We take moral dilemmas to be situations where no fully “moral” resolution is possible. Even an action that is, on the whole, justified may involve an injustice against someone affected. Some philosophers and theologians rule out such dilemmas on the basis of logical incoherence, or incompatibility with the nature of a good and all-powerful God. This essay defends the plausibility of moral dilemmas in Christian ethics, in light of Augustine's and Aquinas's reflections on ambivalent decisions; challenges to modern rationalist epistemologies; and contemporary theological hermeneutics of God, God's attributes, and the problem of evil. We propose a Christian ethical response entailing communal support for agents caught in moral dilemmas, as well as social-political remediation of contributing structural injustices. Our focus is individual agents, yet we indicate how analogous dilemmas can arise for agents of institutions.