A colleague of yours frequently takes for his own personal use small amounts of office supplies, noting that the loss to the company is minimal. You counter that if everyone were to take the office supplies, the loss would no longer be minimal. Your rationale expresses which historical ethical principle?
A) Kant's Categorical Imperative
B) The Golden Rule
C) The Risk Aversion Principle
D) The "No free lunch" rule

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Kant's Categorical Imperative argues that we should treat others as ends in themselves and not merely as means to our own ends. In this scenario, the colleague is treating the company's supplies as a means to his own ends, without regard for the consequences of his actions on others or the company as a whole. The counter argument that if everyone were to behave in the same way, the loss would no longer be minimal, reflects the principle of universalizability, a key component of Kant's ethical framework.

A Colleague of Yours Frequently Takes for His Own Personal