Which ethical tension is highlighted by the Sadhu parable in the context of professional ethics?

• A. Cultural differences dominate ethical judgments
• B. The tension between individual ethics and corporate ethics
• C. Self-interest always governs decisions
• D. Ethical decisions are always clear-cut

Answer: (B)

At the heart of this parable is a tension between personal conscience and organizational expectations. The story highlights a professional who feels a moral pull to act compassionately and help a vulnerable individual, even if doing so clashes with the organization’s goals, policies, or rationales for maximizing profits or efficiency. This tug-of-war forces the individual to weigh what their own ethical intuition says is right against the duties or norms imposed by the company or profession. It illustrates that ethical decisions in the real world often sit in the gray area between doing good for others and adhering to organizational rules, and it invites professionals to seek ways to align personal values with professional duties, or to navigate policies that allow humane action without sacrificing legitimate organizational aims.

Cultural differences dominating ethical judgments isn’t the focus here, since the scenario centers on the clash between an individual’s ethics and corporate or professional norms, not on cross-cultural judgments. Saying self-interest always governs decisions isn’t accurate either, as the parable shows a moral conflict where personal care may resist self-interest. And ethical decisions aren’t always clear-cut in this context—the point is precisely that such situations require balancing competing loyalties and values.