After Doing Something That Might Be Considered Unethical, a Rationalizer

question 103

Multiple Choice

After doing something that might be considered unethical, a rationalizer says: "It's not really illegal." This expresses a mistaken belief that

• A) one's behaviour is acceptable, especially in ambiguous situations.
• B) because someone can be found to benefit from the behaviour, it is also in the individual's or the organization's best interests.
• C) the behaviour is justified and cannot be held wrong at any time.
• D) the organization's (on behalf of whom the individual acts) best interests stand above all others.
• E) as long as people have acted in good faith, their behaviour is ethical.

---

Definitions:

Industrial Stage

A phase in the development of a society characterized by the growth of industries, mass production, and a shift from agrarian to industrial economies.

Global Village

A term that describes the world as being interconnected through technology, making distances shorter and communication instant, as envisioned by Marshall McLuhan.

Quality of Mind

The capacity to critically assess situations, empathize with others, and engage in thoughtful reflection and understanding.

Collective Consciousness

A set of shared beliefs, ideas, and moral attitudes which operate as a unifying force within society, originally conceptualized by sociologist Émile Durkheim.