Final answer:
The common ethical dilemma of Truth vs. Loyalty involves the challenge of balancing honesty in professional responsibilities against personal loyalty to a friend. Philosopher W.D. Ross emphasized that resolving such dilemmas requires weighing the urgency and importance of conflicting duties. Carol Gilligan highlighted the role of emotional understanding in ethical decision-making.
Step-by-step explanation:
A common ethical dilemma that pits someone's desire to support and assist a dear friend against their responsibilities as a supervisor is c) Truth vs. Loyalty. This type of dilemma arises when one is torn between being honest, perhaps by acknowledging a friend's poor work performance or violation of company policy, and showing loyalty to that friend by protecting them from the consequences of their actions. Ethical dilemmas often involve a conflict between two perfect duties, such as never telling a lie and avoiding harm to others. The situation becomes even more complex when the outcome of telling the truth could lead to harm.Philosopher W.D. Ross believed that we are often faced with multiple, conflicting moral responsibilities and that our actual duty is the one that is most pressing and urgent. He recognized that certain moral commitments might be more pressing than others, thus aiding in the resolution of duty conflicts. For example, a duty of non-maleficence may outweigh a duty to promote maximum good. Carol Gilligan, another voice in ethical philosophy, suggested that earlier researchers had overlooked sympathetic reactions to moral situations, indicating that emotional responses play a vital role in our moral decision-making process. Ultimately, resolving such ethical dilemmas requires careful judgment, often considering altruism, the well-being of others, and applying a balance between competing duties and moral rules.