Which ethical belief holds that individuals have a moral obligation to help others even at a cost to themselves?

• A. Procedural Justice
• B. Noble Cause Corruption
• C. Altruism
• D. Restorative Justice

Answer: (C)

Altruism is the ethical belief that individuals have a moral obligation to help others even at personal cost. This idea is all about selfless concern for others and a readiness to incur costs or sacrifice one’s own interests to benefit someone else. In the context of criminal justice ethics, altruism is what drives the notion that doing good for others is a duty, even when it requires personal sacrifice.

Procedural Justice isn’t about helping others at cost; it’s about whether decision-making processes are fair and legitimate. Noble Cause Corruption refers to bending rules to achieve what are believed to be noble outcomes, which involves unethical actions rather than a pure moral obligation to help at cost. Restorative Justice focuses on repairing harm and reintegrating offenders with the community, emphasizing accountability and repair rather than a blanket duty to sacrifice for others.

So the best fit is altruism because it directly encapsulates the idea of a moral obligation to help others even when doing so comes with personal sacrifice.