CEA Ethical Principles & Moral Reasoning 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which ethical framework judges the morality of an action solely by its outcomes?
- Deontology
- Virtue ethics
- Consequentialism (Correct answer)
- Divine command theory
Correct answer: Consequentialism
Consequentialism holds that an action is right or wrong based entirely on the results it produces.
Question 2: A manager discovers a minor safety violation but fears reporting it will damage team morale. Which principle best guides the decision to report?
- Beneficence — maximizing group happiness
- Non-maleficence — preventing harm to others (Correct answer)
- Autonomy — respecting individual choice
- Justice — treating all stakeholders fairly
Correct answer: Non-maleficence — preventing harm to others
Non-maleficence requires preventing foreseeable harm, which takes priority over short-term morale concerns.
Question 3: 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?
- Act in whatever way produces the most happiness for the most people
- Only act in ways you could logically wish everyone to act without contradiction (Correct answer)
- Follow the rules established by your professional organization
- Treat every person with the same level of respect regardless of status
Correct 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.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes 'moral relativism'?
- Moral truths are universal and apply equally to all cultures
- Ethical standards vary by culture and no single standard is universally valid (Correct answer)
- Individual conscience is the only reliable guide to moral behavior
- Religious texts define the only legitimate source of moral rules
Correct 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.
Question 5: An employee is asked to falsify a report to protect the company's reputation. Which ethical principle is most directly violated?
- Loyalty
- Veracity (Correct answer)
- Prudence
- Fairness
Correct answer: Veracity
Veracity is the duty to tell the truth; falsifying a report is a direct violation of this principle.
Question 6: The 'veil of ignorance' thought experiment by John Rawls is designed to promote which value?
- Efficiency in resource allocation
- Impartial fairness in designing social rules (Correct answer)
- Maximizing individual freedom above all else
- Respecting traditional social hierarchies
Correct 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.
Question 7: Which scenario best illustrates a conflict between personal ethics and organizational ethics?
- A company policy requires recycling, and an employee also values recycling personally
- An employee values honesty but is instructed by leadership to withhold material information from clients (Correct answer)
- A firm's code of conduct prohibits bribery, consistent with the employee's own beliefs
- A manager enforces a safety rule that aligns with both her values and company policy
Correct 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.
CEA Ethical Principles & Moral Reasoning 2
Which ethical framework judges the morality of an action solely by its outcomes?