Which statement describes ethical relativism?

• A. Morals are universal and fixed
• B. Morals vary with culture or situation
• C. Morals are determined by law
• D. Morals are dictated by religious doctrine

Answer: (B)

Ethical relativism says that judgments about right and wrong are not universal and fixed, but depend on the cultural context or the specific situation. In this view, different societies or groups can have legitimate, differing moral standards, and what’s considered ethical in one setting may not be in another. This contrasts with the idea that morals are the same everywhere or that morality is determined solely by law or by religious doctrine. The law example relies on legal rules rather than broader cultural norms, and religious doctrine reflects a particular belief system rather than the diversity of moral perspectives across cultures. So the statement that morals vary with culture or situation best captures ethical relativism, and it helps explain why practices may be judged differently in different contexts.