Compare utilitarian and deontological ethical frameworks and provide an example of choosing between them in a cadet context.

• A. Utilitarian focuses on outcomes; deontological on duties. Example: revealing a leak that could harm individuals vs protecting loyalty.
• B. Utilitarian and deontological are identical.
• C. Deontological focuses on outcomes; utilitarian on duties.
• D. Neither framework cares about consequences or duties.

Answer: (A)

The main idea being tested is how utilitarian and deontological ethics decide what matters in a choice: outcomes versus duties. Utilitarian thinking evaluates actions by their results, aiming to maximize overall good or minimize harm. In a cadet context, that means weighing whether revealing a leak would prevent greater harm to individuals or the public, even if it means breaking loyalty or the chain of command. Deontological ethics, on the other hand, centers on duties, rules, and moral principles that should be followed regardless of the consequences. A cadet guided by this view would prioritize loyalties and obligations—such as confidentiality and following orders—even if disclosing the leak might reduce harm. This captures why the first option is the best: it correctly assigns the focus of each framework and provides a concrete, cadet-relevant example. The other statements misrepresent the ideas: saying the frameworks are identical ignores their foundational differences; swapping the focus of outcomes and duties reverses their basic definitions; and claiming neither cares about consequences or duties contradicts what these theories are about.