If two ethical principles conflict, what is a common method to resolve the conflict?

• A. Choose the principle with legal authority
• B. Balance interest by priority or hierarchy
• C. Ignore one principle
• D. Ask a peer to decide without criteria

Answer: (B)

When two ethical principles conflict, professionals typically resolve the tension by weighing them against each other and applying a priority or hierarchy. This balancing approach lets you consider which principle should carry more weight given the specific context, the potential harms or benefits to people involved, and the duties at stake. It provides a structured, reasoned way to justify the decision rather than relying on a single rule in isolation.

Choosing the principle with legal authority isn’t always right in ethics because law and ethical considerations don’t always align, and not every ethical dilemma is fully covered by legal rules. Ignoring one principle would sacrifice fairness and consistency, and asking a peer to decide without criteria would lead to arbitrary judgments lacking justification.