Which statement best describes ethical judgments?

Which statement best describes ethical judgments?

• A. They focus solely on what is beneficial for the majority
• B. They center only on which actions are right and which are wrong
• C. They depend on personal taste
• D. They are determined by cultural trends

Answer: (B)

Ethical judgments are moral evaluations that classify actions as morally right or morally wrong. They aren’t defined solely by whether an action benefits the majority, by personal taste, or by what a culture is doing. While outcomes, feelings, and social norms can influence how we think about morality, the essential task is to judge actions against moral standards—such as duties, rights, fairness, or virtues. That focus on distinguishing right from wrong is why the statement describing ethical judgments as centers on what is right and what is wrong is the best match. The other ideas describe related considerations (overall usefulness, subjective preference, cultural trends) but don’t capture the core purpose of ethical judgment.

Ethical judgments are moral evaluations that classify actions as morally right or morally wrong. They aren’t defined solely by whether an action benefits the majority, by personal taste, or by what a culture is doing. While outcomes, feelings, and social norms can influence how we think about morality, the essential task is to judge actions against moral standards—such as duties, rights, fairness, or virtues. That focus on distinguishing right from wrong is why the statement describing ethical judgments as centers on what is right and what is wrong is the best match. The other ideas describe related considerations (overall usefulness, subjective preference, cultural trends) but don’t capture the core purpose of ethical judgment.