Janet reasons, "It's wrong to lie. However, it's okay to overstate my expense account on my last trip because I really need the money, and the company hasn't given me a raise in the past year." This statement is an example of an employee who is applying _____ to fit the situation at hand.
A) the universal code of ethics
B) relative ethical standards
C) moral absolutism
D) the divine command theory

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The employee is applying relative ethical standards by justifying their actions based on their personal need for money and the perceived lack of compensation from the company. This approach involves weighing the specific circumstances of a situation to determine what actions are ethical, rather than adhering to a universal code of ethics (A) or moral absolutism (C), which dictate that certain actions are always right or wrong regardless of the situation. The divine command theory (D) asserts that what is ethical is determined by a higher power or deity, which does not apply in this situation.

Janet Reasons, "It's Wrong to Lie