An ethical dilemma is a situation characterized by a problem of choice between two possible decisions, neither of which can fully satisfy all the parties or requirements involved. The ethical dilemma involving the worker with a shocking record of absenteeism is the most problematic. It becomes so, courtesy of the damaged caused by his behavior of nonattendance. The company continues to face a jam in the submission of required paperwork while his colleagues have to juggle between fulfill their duties and trying to cover for him. Although the administration is aware of his absence, it is not fair that the employee is taking advantage of his permanent or contracted employment basis, to take as much time off as he pleases.

According to Utilitarian ethics, an individual should consider all the possible outcomes of an action before going forward with it. The dilemma in question begs an understanding of the reasons behind the worker’s frequent absenteeism. However, since it is evident that a considerable number of people suffer from his actions, it is, therefore, a safe conclusion, based on the theory, that the individual is unethical. Deontological ethics, on the other hand, require a person to treat all others with utmost dignity and respect (Rae, 2018). Applied to this situation, the worker, should, in light of the circumstances, give up his position at the organization or, abandon his misconduct and join the rest in fulfilling’s their responsibilities. It, therefore means that the individual has been more morally incorrect by abandoning his duties for his selfish unexplained reasons.

The discussion between good, bad, right and what is explicitly wrong is one with ages of existence. ‘Good’ mostly describe a state of selflessness, where an individual focuses more on others than themselves. Evil is the irresistible urge to satisfy one’s desire regardless of the consequences to others. More of than not, ‘right’ depends on personal and shared values. Therefore, whether a decision is wrong or right is highly dependent on the maximization of contentment and a healthy balance between shared and, personal values. The concept of ‘ought’ concerns itself with what should be the case instead of what ‘is’ the case according to a particular field or profession (Pigden, 2016). It rules superior as it suggests that ethics is just that, ethics, without classifications into what is applicable in certain spheres and what is not. From this complex yet informing descriptions, it is right and proper if the worker starts to take his work seriously and reports to work more consistently. He ought to do as he should, to fulfill his duties according to the level his colleagues and his employers expect.

St. Augustine’s philosophy revolved around human beings being are not constantly aware where they omit wrongful acts, but instead, their actions result from their unfamiliarity to what is good, which arises from a misleading school of thought (Walker, 2014). Applied to the abovementioned dilemma, St. Augustine would try to find a way to correct the individual’s thinking by convincing him to try and empathize with the employer and the colleagues.

On the other hand, St. Aquinas suggests that it is possible to make mistakes. However, if individuals complete actions which they believe to be fair to the best of their knowledge and the error therein results from ignorance, then there is no sin (McCluskey, 2016). Unfortunately, in this case, the officer is aware of what his actions are causing his colleagues but chooses to dismiss them. He is selfish by only minding his interests citing that he has the right to spend his earned time. Hence, Aquinas would most probably find him at fault due to his apparent awareness of the situation.

Both Aquinas and Augustine believed that if an individual’s mistakes resulted from pure ignorance, then the persons involved would be free of sin. Augustine, however, felt that humankind is only capable of evil due to misdirected education, which, is possible to correct. Aquinas on his side held that man could be guilty of wrongdoing and that the deciding factor is whether they are ignorant or, they rebelliously make that decision to commit a wrongful act.

References

Rae, S. (2018). Moral choices: An introduction to ethics. Zondervan.

McCluskey, C. (2016). Thomas Aquinas on Moral Wrongdoing. Cambridge University Press.

Walker, G. (2014). Moral foundations of constitutional thought: Current problems, Augustinian prospects (Vol. 1127). Princeton University Press.

Pigden, C. (2016). Hume On Is and Ought: Logic, Promises and the Duke of Wellington.