Question

Since your desk is close to the office supplies closet, it didn’t take long for you to notice that one of your colleagues, Jeffery, visits the office supplies quite frequently. You don’t have any solid evidence that he’s stealing, but you can’t figure out why else he’d be making daily trips into the closet. So you decide to confront Jeffery and he says, "Of course I’m taking office supplies home. And yes, I know that technically it’s stealing, but don’t act for a second like you don’t do it either; heck even the boss takes home a ream or two of paper each month. Look, you and I both know we don’t get paid much and life sucks around here, this is one of the few perks we get on this crummy job."

What ethical perspective is Jeffery using to justify his actions?

Select: 1

Universalism

Resource allocation

Relativism

Utilitarianism

Answer 1

The correct answer is Option C) Relativism

• Jeffery is applying the relativism concept to justify his actions.
• Relativists like Jeffery believe that right and wrong are subjective and only make sense relative to the environment of the individual.
• He is trying to justify this by saying that we don't get enough play and the work environment is not healthy and this should be treated as a perk.
• He is trying to define the right and wrong from his perspective and point of view.

The same action can be wrong and right depending on the society and the person and hence he says that even though he is taking the supplies, everyone, around him is doing the same, thereby justifying his action.

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