In contractualism, when is an act wrong?

In contractualism, when is an act wrong?

• A. An act is morally right if it conforms to a moral rule that everyone could reasonably reject.
• B. An act is wrong if and only if it violates a moral rule that no one could reasonably reject.
• C. Moral rules are determined by popularity.
• D. Morality is determined solely by outcomes.

Answer: (B)

Contractualism evaluates actions by asking whether they would violate rules that no one could reasonably reject under fair terms of cooperation. The idea is that morality hinges on what rational beings could consistently accept as a condition for living and cooperating with others, given the possible burdens and benefits to everyone affected. So an act is wrong when it breaks a moral rule that no one could reasonably reject—there would be no defensible objection to adopting that rule for everyone. This emphasizes justification to others and fairness in mutual cooperation, not popularity or just the outcome of an action. For example, taking someone else’s property would violate a rule that others could reasonably object to if everyone were allowed to do so, so it would be immoral under contractualism. In short, the act is wrong if it violates a rule that no one could reasonably reject.

Contractualism evaluates actions by asking whether they would violate rules that no one could reasonably reject under fair terms of cooperation. The idea is that morality hinges on what rational beings could consistently accept as a condition for living and cooperating with others, given the possible burdens and benefits to everyone affected. So an act is wrong when it breaks a moral rule that no one could reasonably reject—there would be no defensible objection to adopting that rule for everyone.

This emphasizes justification to others and fairness in mutual cooperation, not popularity or just the outcome of an action. For example, taking someone else’s property would violate a rule that others could reasonably object to if everyone were allowed to do so, so it would be immoral under contractualism.

In short, the act is wrong if it violates a rule that no one could reasonably reject.