Which ethical system is most likely to support harassing a racial minority group in pursuit of a justifiable goal such as preventing terrorism?

Which ethical system is most likely to support harassing a racial minority group in pursuit of a justifiable goal such as preventing terrorism?

• A. An Ethical Formalist System
• B. Utilitarian System
• C. Relativist System
• D. Rational System

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is how actions are judged by their consequences. A utilitarian framework evaluates what we do based on the outcomes and seeks the greatest overall good for the most people. If harassing a racial minority is believed to prevent terrorism and improve safety for the larger population, a utilitarian would see that action as justifiable because it increases overall welfare, even though it harms a specific group. In contrast, an ethical formalist system focuses on universal moral rules and treating individuals as ends in themselves, so it would condemns using people as means to an end, regardless of assumed benefits. Relativist ethics depend on cultural norms, so its stance could vary by society and isn’t inherently about endorsing harm for a supposed greater good. A rational system, depending on how it’s defined, doesn’t automatically prioritize outcomes over rights in the way utilitarianism does, so it’s less likely to justify harassment for security gains.

The main idea here is how actions are judged by their consequences. A utilitarian framework evaluates what we do based on the outcomes and seeks the greatest overall good for the most people. If harassing a racial minority is believed to prevent terrorism and improve safety for the larger population, a utilitarian would see that action as justifiable because it increases overall welfare, even though it harms a specific group. In contrast, an ethical formalist system focuses on universal moral rules and treating individuals as ends in themselves, so it would condemns using people as means to an end, regardless of assumed benefits. Relativist ethics depend on cultural norms, so its stance could vary by society and isn’t inherently about endorsing harm for a supposed greater good. A rational system, depending on how it’s defined, doesn’t automatically prioritize outcomes over rights in the way utilitarianism does, so it’s less likely to justify harassment for security gains.