Which view holds that right actions are those sanctioned by a person?

• A. Cultural relativism
• B. Subjective relativism
• C. Moral objectivism
• D. Deontology

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is that morality depends on the individual’s own attitude or approval. In subjective relativism, what makes an action right is that the person sanctions or endorses it. So, if I personally approve of lying in a given situation, then I consider lying to be morally right in that context; if I disapprove, then it’s not right for me. There isn’t any universal standard beyond each person’s own attitudes.

This sets it apart from cultural relativism, which anchors rightness to the norms of one’s culture rather than to an individual’s approval. It also differs from moral objectivism, which holds that there are universal moral truths, and from deontology, which ties rightness to adherence to duties or rules rather than personal sanction. Therefore, right actions being those sanctioned by a person is precisely the stance of subjective relativism.