Question

A belief in ethical relativism leads to the conclusion that

A. Since ethical standards are subjective, it is perfectly appropriate for each company to define and implement its own ethical principles of right and wrong as concerns the use of underage labor and the payment of bribes and kickbacks
B. Ethical standards are determined objectively (rather than subjectively)
C. Whether the use of underage labor and the payment of bribes/kickbacks should be deemed ethical or unethical depends on the moral standards, values, beliefs, convictions and business norms that prevail in particular cultures, societies, countries or circumstances
D. Ethical standards are objective and universal—thus whether the use of underage labor and the payment of bribes and kickbacks should be deemed ethical or unethical definitely is not dependent on the moral standards, values, beliefs, convictions and business norms that prevail in particular cultures, societies, countries or circumstances
E. Standards of right and wrong are governed by what is legal in a given country—thus whether the use of underage labor and the payment of bribes and kickbacks is ethical or unethical is governed by local law

Answer 1

A belief in ethical relativism suggests that ethical standards are based on the values and beliefs of each culture or society, and as such, the use of underage labor and payment of bribes and kickbacks is deemed ethical or unethical depending on cultural context.

Step-by-step explanation:

Understanding Ethical Relativism

A belief in ethical relativism inevitably leads to the conclusion that ethical standards are not absolute but are relative to the moral standards, values, beliefs, convictions, and business norms of particular cultures, societies, countries, or circumstances. This philosophical standpoint suggests that what is considered ethical or unethical can greatly vary across different societies. Therefore, judgement on ethical matters, such as the use of underage labor or the payment of bribes and kickbacks, is influenced by the context within which they occur.

Those who adhere to ethical relativism contend that there is no single objective moral truth. Instead, morality is seen as a construct that emerges from social agreements within different communities. What one society may deem to be morally acceptable, another may find completely unacceptable. For instance, some cultures may have widely different views on the use of underage labor, not necessarily aligning with what might be broadly seen as human rights violations elsewhere.

There are arguments that norms like 'killing is wrong' could suggest some common ethical ground between cultures, even amongst those with practices that starkly contrast with this principle. However, proponents of normative ethical relativism would argue that the interpretation of what constitutes 'wrong' is still subjective and culturally dependent. For example, self-defense or capital punishment could be seen as acceptable reasons for killings within some cultures, challenging the idea of a universal moral consensus on the topic.