What is the primary goal of principle-based ethics?

The primary goal of principle-based ethics is to clarify moral duties and obligations. This ethical framework emphasizes the importance of fundamental principles, such as autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice, in guiding ethical decision-making. By focusing on these principles, individuals and professionals can assess moral issues in a structured way, ensuring that their decisions are informed by a clear understanding of the ethical responsibilities they hold. This approach provides a robust framework to navigate complex ethical dilemmas, as it encourages a reasoned analysis of principles rather than relying solely on personal beliefs or societal norms.

In contrast, the other options reflect different dimensions of ethics that do not align with the primary intention of principle-based ethics. For instance, advocating for subjective moral beliefs suggests a more relativistic approach, where individual opinions overshadow structured ethical analysis. Determining societal norms focuses on the collective behavior and values of a community, which can vary widely and may not reflect individual duties. Dictating personal choices implies a prescriptive approach that confines individuals to specific actions rather than encouraging a reasoned evaluation of ethical responsibilities. Thus, clarifying moral duties and obligations remains central to the principle-based ethics framework.