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 term refers to the unconscious tendency to make ethical judgments that favor oneself or one's in-group?
Answer: Self-serving bias
Self-serving bias causes individuals to interpret situations in ways that protect their own interests, distorting moral reasoning.
A company donates to charity only to improve its public image with no genuine concern for beneficiaries. This is best characterized as:
Answer: Instrumental altruism or ethics washing
When ethical or charitable actions are taken purely for reputational gain without sincere concern for those served, it is considered instrumental altruism or 'ethics washing.'
The principle of 'justice as fairness' requires that inequalities in society be arranged so that they:
Answer: Benefit the least advantaged members of society
Rawls' difference principle holds that social and economic inequalities are only just if they benefit the worst-off members of society.
Which ethical concept describes the gradual erosion of moral sensitivity through repeated exposure to questionable practices?
Answer: Ethical fading
Ethical fading refers to the process by which ethical considerations gradually become less salient as individuals adapt to a culture of small ethical compromises.
An auditor discovers fraud at a client company. Reporting it will end the business relationship. Which ethical framework most strongly supports mandatory disclosure?
Answer: Deontology — the duty to report wrongdoing is absolute
A deontological framework holds that certain duties, such as reporting fraud, are obligatory regardless of personal consequences.
Which of the following is NOT one of the commonly cited 'pillars' or foundational principles in professional ethics?
Answer: Profitability
Profitability is a business goal, not an ethical principle; integrity, objectivity, and confidentiality are widely recognized pillars of professional ethics.
A supervisor pressures employees to meet sales targets by misleading customers about product features. This is an example of:
Answer: Institutional pressure creating unethical behavior
When organizational pressure drives employees to act unethically, it illustrates how institutional culture can corrupt individual moral behavior.