Moral dilemmas of defence decisions in situations of threats of physical aggression comparative analysis between 1999 and 2018

Abstract

In this article, the author interprets the results of research on moral dilemmas of making decisions as to how to defend oneself against physical aggression. In one instance, aggression is directed against the respondent with the intent to kill, in the other, against a bystander with no clear intent. Research conducted by the author both in 1999 and in 2018 involved 1st year military school students (basic training period). The conducted comparative analysis of empirical data allows the author to conclude that the morality of decisions concerning defensive actions in situations of threats of physical aggression depends primarily on the person against whom the aggression is directed (respondent, bystander) and the intensity of aggression. The analysis also gives grounds for postulating a thesis that between 1999 and 2018, there has been a positive change in the moral awareness of candidates for the Officer Corps of the Polish Armed Forces.