Final answer:
Duty-based ethical standards frequently originate from religious beliefs, setting them apart in the realm of deontological ethics which determines morality based on adherence to duty rather than consequences or character traits. The correct answer is option d).
Step-by-step explanation:
Duty-based ethical standards often derive from d) religious beliefs. Duty-based, or deontological ethics, focuses on the inherent rightness or wrongness of actions rather than the consequences. This form of ethics relies on certain duties and rules to determine moral conduct, distinct from consequentialism, which bases morality on the outcomes of actions, or virtue ethics, which centers on the character and virtues of a person. Deontologists may derive their understanding of duty from various sources, including religious teachings, divine command, or rational principles.