Which term describes varied ideas and principles used to make judgement between right and wrong?

• A. Ethics
• B. Applied ethics
• C. Ethical theory
• D. Morals

Answer: (C)

The main idea is understanding how we categorize the reasons people use to judge actions as right or wrong. Ethical theory refers to the set of philosophical frameworks that justify and explain why certain actions are considered ethical. It encompasses varied approaches—like deontology, utilitarianism, virtue ethics, and others—that provide different principles for evaluating what’s right. So when you hear “varied ideas and principles used to make judgment between right and wrong,” ethical theory is the best fit because it specifically names the organized reasoning and justification behind ethical judgments.

Ethics is the broader field of study about right and wrong, morals are personal beliefs about right and wrong, and applied ethics is about applying these theories to real-world issues. The phrase in question points to the underlying rational systems that guide judgment, which is what ethical theory captures.