Dilemmades

Dilemmades are a term used in ethics and decision theory to describe a class of moral dilemmas that present decision-makers with conflicting obligations and consequential outcomes. Each dilemmade places the actor in a situation where pursuing one legitimate duty undermines another, forcing a judgment about which value to prioritize. The scenarios are designed to illuminate reasoning processes as much as the outcomes themselves.

The word is a neologism used in some academic and educational contexts since the late 20th or early 21st century; it derives from the root dilemma and the suffix -ade, employed in English to denote a collection or series of examples. However, there is no single canonical definition, and usage varies by author.

Dilemmades commonly involve multiple stakeholders, moral or professional duties (for example confidentiality, autonomy, justice), and uncertain or opposing consequences. They may be designed as didactic exercises, policy simulations, or interactive narratives in which readers or participants justify their choices rather than simply select a "correct" option.

In ethics education and related fields, a dilemmade might present a clinician choosing between patient confidentiality and public safety, or a policy-maker deciding between allocating limited resources to education or public health. Critics argue that dilemmades risk oversimplification or cultural bias, while supporters contend they sharpen critical thinking and moral reasoning. See also moral dilemma; trolley problem; thought experiment.