Relational ethics/contextualism posits that the duty toward others depends on which factors?

• A. Relational ethics/contextualism
• B. Rights-based ethics
• C. Utilitarianism
• D. Deontological ethics

Answer: (A)

Relational ethics/contextualism says our duties to others change with who we are to them and the situation we’re in. The obligation you feel depends on factors like the closeness of the relationship, the roles involved (for example, caregiver, supervisor, family member), cultural norms, power dynamics, and the specific context (emergency, vulnerability, limited resources). This emphasis on relationships and context is why this option is the best fit—it expresses that duty isn’t fixed by universal rules but by the particulars of the relationship and situation.

By contrast, rights-based ethics centers duties on inherent rights, regardless of relationship or context; utilitarianism looks to the overall outcomes or happiness produced by an action; and deontological ethics bases duties on universal rules that apply regardless of the situation.