Final answer:
Ethics is defined as universal principles of right and wrong that guide behavior, as opposed to being subjective or culture-specific. The correct option is B.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question 'Which of the following best describes ethics?' is looking for a fundamental understanding of ethics. The option 'Universal principles of right and wrong' identifies ethics as a discipline concerned with moral principles that guide individuals in determining what is right and wrong. Ethics engages in systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior and is divided into metaethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics. Normative ethics focuses on the establishment of criteria or principles to guide correct behavior. The three main approaches within normative ethics are consequentialism, which focuses on outcomes or consequences; deontology, which concentrates on duty and rules; and virtue ethics, concerned with character and virtues.
On the other hand, personal preferences, cultural norms, and legal regulations can influence behavior, but they do not define ethics in its entirety. These factors can interact with ethical principles but often vary across individuals and societies. For example, descriptive ethical relativism suggests that moral codes are subject-specific and culturally dependent, whereas some ethical theories propose that morality stems from an individual's conscience. Ethics, therefore, seeks to go beyond cultural, personal, and legal perspectives to establish a more universal set of principles regarding right and wrong actions.