Question

According to the advocates of ethical relativism,

A. If the use of underage labor and/or the payment of bribes/kickbacks are acceptable in a particular culture/society/country, then a case can be made that it is morally correct and ethical for a company to use underage labor or pay bribes/kickbacks in conducting its business activities inthat culture/society/country
B. Each company should have the flexibility to set its own standards for deciding whether the use of underage labor and/or the payment of bribes/kickbacks are ethically acceptable or not
C. If the use of underage labor and/or the payment of bribes/kickbacks are legal in a particular country, then it is morally correct and ethical for a company to use underage labor in conducting its business activities in that country, no matter what the egality of using underage labor or paying bribes/kickbacks happens to be in other countries
D. Each industry should have the flexibility to set its own standards for deciding whether the use of underage labor and/or the payment of bribes/kickbacks are ethically acceptable or not
E. It is very clear that the use of underage labor or the payment of bribes and kickbacks are ethically impermissible—local customs, behavioral norms and traditions absolutely cannot be taken into account

Answer 1

Ethical relativism suggests that what is considered ethical for a company can depend on cultural or societal norms. Strategies like the use of underage labor or bribes may be seen as ethical in some contexts if they align with local practices and laws.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to the advocates of ethical relativism, the ethics of a company's actions can be contingent upon the cultural, societal, or legal norms of the country in which it operates. For instance, if the use of underage labor or the payment of bribes is accepted within a specific cultural context, then ethical relativism would suggest that it could be considered morally correct and ethical for a company to engage in those practices within that context. Option A best captures the essence of ethical relativism by stating that if underage labor and/or bribery are culturally acceptable, a company could argue that these practices are ethical within that society. It is crucial to consider the complexities of labor practices in international contexts, as exemplified by the case of Ahmed Zia, where higher income from unpleasant work may still represent a better option for individuals in low-income countries.