Real Estate Council of Alberta Fundamentals Practice Exam

What ethical approach considers an individual's intentions or motives?

1. Duty-based approach

2. Consequentialism

3. Comparative ethics

4. Legalism

The correct answer is: Duty-based approach

The duty-based approach, also known as deontological ethics, emphasizes the importance of an individual's intentions or motives when evaluating the morality of an action. This perspective posits that the rightness or wrongness of actions does not solely depend on their outcomes or consequences but rather on the underlying principles and intentions guiding those actions. It holds that certain duties or rules must be followed regardless of the potential results, thereby placing significant importance on the actor's motives. In contrast, consequentialism evaluates actions based on their outcomes, focusing on the results rather than the intentions behind the actions. Comparative ethics involves assessing different moral systems or traditions, and legalism strictly adheres to established laws without necessarily considering the individual's intentions. Each of these approaches has its own merits and focuses, but the defining characteristic of the duty-based approach is its clear focus on the moral significance of intentions.