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Becoming a cannibal to survive in the mountains is justified because it's the only way to stay alive, classified as _______.

a) Situational ethics
b) Utilitarianism
c) Moral absolutism
d) Ethical relativism

User Mrstif
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Final answer:

The concept that justifies becoming a cannibal to survive based on the norms of one's culture or situation is ethical relativism. It acknowledges that moral standards can vary across cultures and societies, but this view does not account for moral reforms instigated by minorities.

Step-by-step explanation:

The scenario presented involves a situation where becoming a cannibal to survive in the mountains is seen as the only way to stay alive. The ethical concept that best fits this scenario is ethical relativism. Ethical relativism is the belief that morality is relative to the norms of one's culture. That is, whether an action is right or wrong depends on the moral norms of the society in which it is practiced. The same action may be morally right in one society but be morally wrong in another. Normative Ethical Relativism suggests that because each culture has its own set of morals and ethics, the predominant view within that culture is correct, thereby making minority views, by definition, incorrect. However, this perspective fails to account for moral reforms brought about by minority criticisms of the majority's beliefs. Cultural relativism aims to understand the reasons behind cultural practices and does not necessarily endorse all actions as morally acceptable, but it also underscores the difficulty of objectively judging moral actions from an outsider's perspective.

User Leszek Andrukanis
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