Dilemma 1
The scratched car
Reversing out of a tight space, you scratch a parked car. Nobody saw it, and the owner is nowhere in sight.
Do you leave a note with your number, wait for the owner, or drive away?
7 moral dilemma examples from everyday life
Classic moral dilemmas involve runaway trains. Real ones happen in car parks, at checkouts and on the phone with a friend. In each of these, two good values pull in opposite directions. Choose what you would actually do, not what you'd want others to see.
Dilemma 2
The missed item
Back at your car, you notice the cashier forgot to scan one fairly expensive item in your bag.
Do you go back and pay, keep it, or tell yourself you'll sort it out next time?
Dilemma 3
The alibi
A good friend asks you to tell their partner they were with you last night. They weren't, and they won't say where they were.
Do you cover for them, refuse, or refuse and urge them to tell the truth themselves?
Dilemma 4
The cheater
During a professional certification exam, you see someone clearly cheating. Results are ranked, so their score may push yours down.
Do you report it, ignore it, or talk to them afterwards?
Dilemma 5
The two promises
On the same evening, a friend in crisis begs you to come over, and you are due at a dinner you promised your partner weeks ago.
Do you go to your friend, keep your promise, or try to split the evening?
Dilemma 6
The kind lie
A seriously ill relative asks if two family members who fell out years ago have made peace. They haven't.
Do you tell the truth, tell them what will comfort them, or change the subject?
Dilemma 7
The neighbour's childcare
Your neighbour runs a small unregistered childcare at home. Parents love her, but you have noticed real safety shortcuts.
Do you report it, speak to her directly, or leave it to the parents?
What your answers hint at
If you lean toward the strict answer, you probably see honesty and fairness as rules that matter most when nobody is watching, and you'd rather pay a small cost than carry a quiet one. If you lean toward the flexible answer, you may judge each situation by who gets hurt, and you'd bend a rule to protect a relationship or someone's feelings.
Neither approach is simply right. Rule-based thinking can be rigid, and case-by-case thinking can drift into convenience. The interesting question is where your line sits: which of these would you bend on, and which would you never bend on?
How to use these
These make good prompts for a classroom, a book club or a long dinner. Ask everyone to commit to an answer before discussing. People are often surprised by who in the room turns out to be strict, and who turns out to be flexible.
Beyond a one-line question
A short prompt is easy to answer in theory. ThinkAlike's moral dilemmas and forgiveness stories put you inside the moment, with consequences that follow your choices.
Want more like this? Try 7 everyday dilemmas, 7 workplace dilemmas, 7 relationship dilemmas, 7 money and friendship dilemmas, 7 family obligation dilemmas, 7 friendship dilemmas, 7 parenting dilemmas, 7 ethical dilemmas at work, or 7 ethical dilemmas for students.
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