Which moral obligation requires one to avoid harming others?

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Multiple Choice

Which moral obligation requires one to avoid harming others?

Nonmaleficence is the obligation to avoid harming others. In ethics, it means do no harm and minimize risk when acting for or toward others; it’s the counterpart to beneficence, which focuses on promoting welfare. The question asks for the duty to avoid harming, which matches nonmaleficence precisely. A practical example is avoiding a medical procedure with high risk of serious harm when the potential benefits don’t clearly outweigh the risks, or taking steps to reduce pain and harm even when providing care. The other duties address different concerns: autonomy is about respecting individuals’ decision-making rights, justice about fair and equal treatment, and beneficence about actively promoting good.

Nonmaleficence is the obligation to avoid harming others. In ethics, it means do no harm and minimize risk when acting for or toward others; it’s the counterpart to beneficence, which focuses on promoting welfare. The question asks for the duty to avoid harming, which matches nonmaleficence precisely. A practical example is avoiding a medical procedure with high risk of serious harm when the potential benefits don’t clearly outweigh the risks, or taking steps to reduce pain and harm even when providing care. The other duties address different concerns: autonomy is about respecting individuals’ decision-making rights, justice about fair and equal treatment, and beneficence about actively promoting good.

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