Which statement best describes casuistry?

• A. A method of moral reasoning that emphasizes universal principles and theories
• B. A focus on the development of virtuous character
• C. A framework based on social contracts
• D. A method of moral reasoning that emphasizes cases and analogy rather than universal principles and theories

Answer: (D)

Casuistry is a method of moral reasoning that bases judgments on concrete cases and uses analogy to precedents rather than applying broad universal principles or theories. It looks at the specifics of a dilemma—the facts, context, and how similar cases were resolved—and reasons what’s morally appropriate in the current situation by comparing it to those cases. This makes it distinct from approaches that start from general rules (universal principles and theories), from virtue ethics that focuses on character, or from social contract theories that derive morality from agreements within a society. Instead, casuistry drives ethical judgment through case-by-case comparison, emphasizing the particulars of the situation and how similar cases were handled.