dilemmi

Dilemmi is the Italian plural form of the noun dilemma. In a broad sense, a dilemma is a situation in which a person must choose between two or more alternatives, each with unfavorable or undesirable consequences. The decision is difficult because all available options involve trade-offs or moral costs. Dilemmas appear in everyday life, ethics, law, politics, and narrative storytelling.

Etymology and usage: The term originates from the Greek dilemma, formed from di- “two” and lemma “premise” or proposition. It entered many languages through Latin and later modern usage, with dilemmi serving as the standard plural in Italian.

Types and forms: Dilemmas are discussed in ethics, philosophy, and decision theory as problems of choosing under constraint. Moral or ethical dilemmas present conflicting values or duties; legal or professional dilemmas involve competing rules, obligations, or interests. In logic, a dilemma is a form of argument (such as constructive and destructive dilemmas) that derives a conclusion from two conditional premises and a disjunctive premise.

Cultural and practical significance: Dilemmas are common in literature, film, and real-world decision making, where characters or individuals must weigh consequences and duties. They are used to explore values, responsibility, and the limits of workable options, often prompting reflection on priorities and ethical frameworks.

See also: moral dilemma, ethical dilemma, logical dilemma, decision theory.