A commander follows the moral rule even though it may not produce the best outcome. Which ethical model is driving the decision?

• A. Utilitarianism
• B. Deontology
• C. Virtue ethics
• D. Relativism

Answer: (B)

Focusing on following a moral rule even when it doesn’t yield the best result points to a duty-based approach to ethics. Deontology holds that the rightness of an action comes from obeying rules or duties, not from the consequences. So a commander sticking to a moral rule because it is the right thing to do demonstrates acting from duty rather than trying to achieve the best outcome.

If we were thinking in utilitarian terms, the emphasis would be on the consequences and the overall good, potentially overriding strict rules to maximize outcomes. Virtue ethics, meanwhile, judges actions by whether they reflect virtuous character traits, rather than by rule-following alone. Relativism would look at whether the rule fits a particular culture’s standards, without claiming a universal duty to follow it.