Ethical Principles & Moral Reasoning Flashcards
7 cards from real CEA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Ethical Principles & Moral Reasoning flashcards as text
Which ethical framework judges the morality of an action solely by its outcomes?
Answer: Consequentialism
Consequentialism holds that an action is right or wrong based entirely on the results it produces.
A manager discovers a minor safety violation but fears reporting it will damage team morale. Which principle best guides the decision to report?
Answer: Non-maleficence — preventing harm to others
Non-maleficence requires preventing foreseeable harm, which takes priority over short-term morale concerns.
In Kant's categorical imperative, what does 'act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law' mean?
Answer: Only act in ways you could logically wish everyone to act without contradiction
Kant's universal law formulation requires that the principle behind your action be consistently applicable to all rational agents.
Which of the following best describes 'moral relativism'?
Answer: Ethical standards vary by culture and no single standard is universally valid
Moral relativism holds that ethical judgments are true or false only relative to a particular cultural or individual framework.
An employee is asked to falsify a report to protect the company's reputation. Which ethical principle is most directly violated?
Answer: Veracity
Veracity is the duty to tell the truth; falsifying a report is a direct violation of this principle.
The 'veil of ignorance' thought experiment by John Rawls is designed to promote which value?
Answer: Impartial fairness in designing social rules
Rawls' veil of ignorance asks decision-makers to design principles without knowing their place in society, ensuring impartial fairness.
Which scenario best illustrates a conflict between personal ethics and organizational ethics?
Answer: An employee values honesty but is instructed by leadership to withhold material information from clients
When personal commitment to honesty conflicts with an organizational directive to withhold information, the individual faces an ethical conflict between two levels of obligation.