Philosophical & Moral Dilemmas – Instructions
- Work in pairs. One student is A, the other is B.
- Read the situation carefully.
- Student A argues for the first stance. Student B argues for the second stance.
- Use the bullet points to help build your argument. You can also add your own ideas.
- Discuss together and try to agree on a course of action.
- After finishing, move to the next situation. You may switch roles between A and B at any time.
********************************************************************************************************
1. Cheating in an Exam
Situation: You notice a close friend cheating during a national exam. What do you do?
Student A (Tell the teacher):
- Cheating is unfair to everyone who studied hard.
- It lowers the value of the exam results.
- If you let it go, you’re part of the dishonesty.
- Your friend may get caught later anyway, with worse consequences.
- Standing up for fairness builds integrity and trust.
Student B (Stay silent):
- You don’t want to betray your friend.
- It’s not your responsibility to police others.
- The teacher might not believe you and it could backfire.
- Friendships are more valuable than exam results.
- Everyone makes mistakes; this may be a one-time thing.
********************************
2. Social Media Pressure
Situation: Your friend posts an embarrassing photo of you without asking. What should you do?
Student A (Ask them to delete it):
- You have a right to control your own image online.
- It could affect your reputation or future opportunities.
- True friends respect boundaries.
- It teaches your friend about consent in digital life.
- Avoids long-term embarrassment.
Student B (Let it stay):
- It might not be such a big deal.
- Laughing at yourself shows confidence.
- Asking for deletion might create unnecessary drama.
- The photo will soon be forgotten as new posts come in.
- Online mistakes are part of growing up.
********************************
3. Part-Time Job vs. Studies
Situation: You get offered a part-time job with good pay, but it may hurt your school performance.
Student A (Take the job):
- You gain valuable work experience.
- Earning money builds independence.
- Work teaches discipline and responsibility.
- Employers value real-world skills, not just grades.
- You can still manage school if you’re organized.
Student B (Focus on studies):
- Grades directly affect your future education.
- Once grades drop, it’s hard to recover.
- School years are short; you’ll have plenty of time to work later.
- Stress from balancing both may harm your health.
- Strong academics open doors to better jobs later.
********************************
4. Witnessing Bullying
Situation: You see someone being bullied in the hallway.
Student A (Step in and defend the victim):
- Silence makes you part of the problem.
- Defending others creates a safer school environment.
- The victim will feel supported.
- Bullies often back down when confronted.
- You set a good example for others.
Student B (Stay out of it):
- Intervening could make you a target too.
- Teachers and school staff are trained to handle it.
- You might escalate the situation by interfering.
- It’s better to report privately afterward.
- Protecting your own safety is reasonable.
********************************
5. Party vs. Responsibility
Situation: You’re invited to a big party the night before an important school exam.
Student A (Go to the party):
- Life is about balance, not just studies.
- Memories and social life are important too.
- You can study earlier in the day.
- Relaxing might reduce stress and help performance.
- Missing one exam isn’t the end of the world.
Student B (Stay home and prepare):
- Academic success lasts longer than one party.
- You’ll regret it if you fail the exam.
- Parties happen all the time, exams don’t.
- Sleep and focus matter for brain performance.
- Sacrifice now, enjoy more later.
********************************
6. Group Project Workload
Situation: In a group project, one member refuses to work.
Student A (Tell the teacher):
- It’s unfair for others to cover their share.
- Teachers need to know about free-riding.
- Marks should reflect actual contribution.
- It teaches accountability.
- Future teamwork in real life requires honesty.
Student B (Cover for them):
- It avoids drama and conflict in the group.
- Sometimes people have personal issues.
- The project will still get done faster.
- Keeping peace may be more valuable than fairness.
- You’ll learn more by doing extra work yourself.
********************************
7. Lying for a Friend
Situation: Your friend asks you to lie to their parents about where they were last night.
Student A (Tell the truth / refuse to lie):
- Lying may drag you into more trouble later.
- You don’t want to damage your own reputation.
- True friendship doesn’t ask you to lie.
- Parents have a right to know where their child is.
- Lies often get discovered anyway.
Student B (Cover for your friend):
- Friends should support each other no matter what.
- You’re helping them avoid punishment.
- It builds trust between you and your friend.
- Everyone makes mistakes, friends should forgive.
- One small lie won’t harm anyone.
********************************
8. New Student in Class
Situation: A new student seems lonely and shy. Should you include them in your friend group?
Student A (Include them):
- Everyone deserves to feel welcome.
- Making friends early helps them adjust.
- It shows kindness and maturity.
- They may have a lot to offer once they open up.
- It makes your group stronger and more diverse.
Student B (Stick with your group):
- Friendships should develop naturally, not forced.
- Including them might change group dynamics.
- Your group is already comfortable as it is.
- It’s not your responsibility to take care of everyone.
- The new student will find friends eventually.
********************************
9. Using AI for Schoolwork
Situation: You’re tempted to use AI to write your essay.
Student A (Use AI):
- It saves time and reduces stress.
- You can learn by editing and improving AI text.
- Technology is part of modern education.
- Everyone else may already be using it.
- It helps when deadlines pile up.
Student B (Write it yourself):
- You’ll actually learn and improve your skills.
- Teachers may detect AI use.
- Relying on AI weakens your independence.
- Original work is more satisfying and authentic.
- Cheating can harm your academic record.
********************************
10. Lending Money to a Friend
Situation: A friend asks to borrow money but you’re not sure they’ll pay it back.
Student A (Lend the money):
- It shows trust and generosity.
- Friends should help each other.
- You might need their help one day too.
- Money matters less than friendship.
- Supporting them may strengthen your bond.
Student B (Refuse to lend):
- Money issues can ruin friendships.
- You may not get it back.
- You’re not responsible for their finances.
- Protecting your savings is important.
- Saying “no” sets healthy boundaries.
********************************
- PrintDiscuss offers More Ethical dilemmas.