Ralph believes it is ethically permissible to bribe a foreign government official to gain a contract. He reasons that not only will the contract bring him a great deal of profit, but it will also create jobs, and nobody will be directly harmed in the process. Ralph's beliefs are in accord with which of the following theories of ethical thought?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Ralph's reasoning suggests that he is following the principles of act utilitarianism, which is a form of consequentialist ethics that considers the outcomes of individual actions to determine their ethical permissibility. In this case, Ralph believes that bribing the foreign government official will lead to the greatest overall good, as it will bring him profit and create jobs. However, this reasoning ignores the fact that bribery is illegal and unethical, regardless of the potential benefits it may bring.

Ralph Believes It Is Ethically Permissible to Bribe a Foreign