Which ethical framework posits that what is considered good varies with the values of different groups and individuals?

• A. Ethical relativism
• B. Ethical formalism
• C. Ethical utilitarianism
• D. Professionalism

Answer: (A)

Ethical relativism holds that what is considered good depends on the values of different groups and individuals. This view rejects a single universal standard of morality and instead sees moral norms as shaped by cultural, personal, or situational factors, which is why views about what’s right can vary across societies or even among people within the same society. It explains why there can be legitimate disagreements about moral issues and why practices accepted in one community might be judged differently in another. In contrast, ethical formalism relies on universal duties and rules, utilitarianism focuses on the outcomes that maximize overall happiness, and professionalism centers on agreed-upon standards within a profession. Because the statement emphasizes variability of good across different values, ethical relativism is the best fit.