Which statement about codes of ethics is not true?

Which statement about codes of ethics is not true?

• A. They are based on human values.
• B. They involve persons learning what is right or wrong, then doing what is beneficial to them.
• C. They include the fundamental ground rules by which people live by.
• D. They are lists of guidelines that govern a person's conduct.

Answer: (B)

Codes of ethics express shared human values and the standards or norms that guide how people should act within a profession or organization. They’re not just personal reflections on what’s right or wrong for an individual to decide in isolation; they shape conduct by establishing expectations that serve the public, the profession, and colleagues. That’s why statements describing codes as simply about learning what is right or wrong for oneself and then acting to benefit oneself don’t fit. Codes emphasize duties to others and to the community, requiring adherence even when personal benefit isn’t the result. For example, professionals may be required to report unsafe practices or errors to protect public welfare, even if doing so is costly or inconvenient to the individual. The other options align with codes being grounded in values, providing fundamental rules, and offering guidelines that govern conduct.

Codes of ethics express shared human values and the standards or norms that guide how people should act within a profession or organization. They’re not just personal reflections on what’s right or wrong for an individual to decide in isolation; they shape conduct by establishing expectations that serve the public, the profession, and colleagues. That’s why statements describing codes as simply about learning what is right or wrong for oneself and then acting to benefit oneself don’t fit. Codes emphasize duties to others and to the community, requiring adherence even when personal benefit isn’t the result. For example, professionals may be required to report unsafe practices or errors to protect public welfare, even if doing so is costly or inconvenient to the individual. The other options align with codes being grounded in values, providing fundamental rules, and offering guidelines that govern conduct.