Some examples of moral beliefs include statements such as, "It is wrong to kill another human being except in self-defense" and "Conserving environmental resources for future generations is the right thing to do." Other examples might include, "Taking something that is not yours is wrong" and "It is right to help someone else in need if you have the power to do so."
One example of an ethical conflict is from the novel "Sophie's Choice" by William Styron, in which a woman in a concentration camp is forced by a guard to choose to save only one of her children. Other examples include the conflict between an attorney's obligation to maintain confidentiality when such silence might lead to harm befalling others, or an executive's obligation to maximize profits when that causes damage to a community.
Ethical dilemmas come about in part because practical decisions about how to act are often in conflict with deeply held beliefs about right and wrong. In the case of Sophie's Choice, the practical decision about which child to save is in conflict with the moral belief that allowing any innocent person to be killed is wrong. In political contexts, practical decisions about policy making may conflict with moral beliefs about individual rights.
Ethical dilemmas can be resolved by combining moral beliefs with an awareness of practical consequences. In the case of Sophie's Choice, the principle that innocent life must be preserved is balanced by the practical reality that only one child can be saved. An attorney who seeks to uphold confidentiality must be prepared to accept responsibility for any harm that results. Moral principles can act as standards of conduct while practical considerations about consequences and the limits of freedom are also taken into account.