Ethics correct answers Moral principles of right and wrong that guide a group of people and
affect individual behavior
Categorical Imperative correct answers Absolute rules and universal laws must be followed,
regardless of the situation at hand. Their veracity unquestioned, these rules are assumed to
govern everyone's behavior.
"Kant's Categorical Imperative"
(ex. Salesperson's refusal to be dishonest with a customer because the Ten Commandments
advise "thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor"
Legalism correct answers Ethical decisions based on society's laws or policies. These laws
form an objective standard by which decisions are evaluated. Thus if a decision is prohibited
by law or policy, then it is unethical. Conversely, any decision not expressly prohibited is
considered to be ethical.
(ex. A US citizen citing the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act to determine what is legal and
therefore ethical to pay a foreign enterprise.
Cultural Relativism correct answers Determines what is ethical based on operating cultural
norms, not on absolute truth. Cultural norms are determined by social groups. This
philosophy has its roots in social anthropology.
(ex. Following another country's custom of paying a theater attendant to move one to the
front of a queue ahead of other patrons who had waited longer."
Enlightened Self-Interest correct answers determines the costs and benefits to the decision
maker. Acting in one's own interest. Requires decision makers to analyze the facts logically,
to determine the affects of alternatives and consequences on themselves.
(ex. Padding an expense report because one needs money to buy food)
Utilitarianism correct answers Uses cost-benefit analyses to determine how various options
impact others. Decision makers seek to optimize the number of people that would benefit
from the decision at hand. However, to determine this, decision makers first determine which
individuals or stakeholders are impacted by the decision.
(ex. Terminating the most expensive employees to maximize shareholder wealth)
Light-of-Day correct answers Weigh costs and benefits according to the opinions of others.
The decision maker determines the rightness by calculating the costs and benefits that occur
if the decision becomes public knowledge - particularly to those whose opinions the decision
maker values. Thus others' views matter most in determining whether the decision is ethically
right or wrong. "the newspaper standard". "Would I make the decision if it were printed on
the front page of the newspaper?"
(ex. Refusing to take a bribe out of concern that one would lose customers if they found out)
Tools in Making Ethical Decisions correct answers Philosopher's Approach, Twelve
Questions model, Josephson Institute Model, Steps to ethical decision-making model
Twelve Questions Model correct answers Ask questions to determine the right ethical
decision. Asks people to re-frame their perspective on ethical decision making, which can be
helpful in looking at ethical choices from all angles.