Mary is a newly hired police officer. One day, she observes two fellow officers removing drugs from the evidence room. Mary's values include a devotion to loyalty, so she is inclined to protect her fellow officers. At the same time, she also believes in upholding the law. Mary decides to report the crime that she observed, even though it will mean that her fellow officers will lose their jobs and might also be prosecuted. She has decided that the other officers brought this upon themselves; they were originally worthy of her loyalty, but lost that loyalty through their own actions. This illustrates:
A)ethical formalism.
B)egoism.
C)principle of forfeiture.
D)principle of the golden mean.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Mary's decision is based on the principle of forfeiture, which suggests that individuals lose their right to be treated in a certain way (in this case, with loyalty) due to their own wrongful actions. By engaging in illegal activities, the fellow officers forfeited their right to Mary's loyalty.

Mary Is a Newly Hired Police Officer