What term describes the ability to identify an ethical issue, analyze the situation, reach a moral decision, and effectively act based on that decision?

• A. Moral Sensitivity
• B. Moral Reasoning
• C. Moral Courage
• D. Moral Dilemma

Answer: (A)

Recognizing when a situation has ethical dimensions and begins the process of responding is the key idea here. Moral sensitivity is the ability to notice ethical issues, understand how actions affect others, and sense what needs to be addressed. That starting awareness sets up the entire ethical response: identify the issue, think through what’s appropriate, and move toward a course of action based on that understanding. The subsequent steps—analyzing the situation, deciding what’s right, and acting—are the practical application of that sensitivity, tied to moral reasoning and, when needed, moral courage to follow through. A moral dilemma describes the kind of situation you’re in (one with conflicting ethical choices), not the overall capacity to detect and respond to ethics. So the description aligns best with moral sensitivity, as it emphasizes spotting the ethical issue and initiating the ethical response.