Which ethical approach emphasizes relationships, compassion, sensitivity, and context in decision making?

• A. Ethics of care
• B. Rights-based ethics
• C. Utilitarian ethics
• D. Virtue-based ethics

Answer: (A)

Ethics of care emphasizes the moral importance of relationships, compassion, sensitivity, and the context of a situation in decision making. This approach treats caring for others as central, recognizing that people are relational and often vulnerable, so moral decisions arise from attentiveness to how actions will affect those involved and the connections between them. It asks you to consider the specific needs, history, and circumstances of the people you’re caring for, and to respond with empathy and responsiveness rather than applying abstract rules or focusing solely on outcomes. In practice, decisions are guided by what will best support the well-being of the person in the given relational context, often balancing care duties with the complexity of real-life situations. By contrast, rights-based ethics centers on universal rights and duties, utilitarian ethics on overall outcomes or happiness, and virtue-based ethics on the character and qualities of the person making the decision.