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Introduction
This presentation arises out of two distinct sources: In ethics, I have been interested in sketching out a middle ground between absolutism and relativism. In teaching, I have been interested in exploring ways in which we visualize knowledge.
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Ethical Relativism
Ethical relativism has several important insights: The need for tolerance and understanding The fact of moral diversity We should not pass judgment on practices in other cultures when we dont understand them Sometimes reasonable people may differ on whats morally acceptable
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Morality is relative.
Relative to what?
Individuals Cultures Nations Groups
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Relative to what?
Descriptive ethical relativists say that moral values are relative, but to what:
Culture Nation Group Individualsubjectivism
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What is relative?
Behavior
Different behaviors may exemplify the same value The same behavior may exemplify different values in different culture
Peripheral values
Obviously some culturally-specific values
Core values
Are there central values found in all cultures?
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Presupposes an epistemological solipsism Is unhelpful in dealing with overlaps of cultures--precisely where we need help.
Commerce and trade Media World Wide Web
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Sometimes we say that we cant judge other cultures because we cant fully understand them. Do we need full understanding to judge something? Do we even have full understanding of ourselves? Would this eliminate anthropology as a discipline? Does it deny a main goal of multiculturalism?
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Ethical relativism suggests that we let each culture live as it sees fit This is only feasible when cultures dont have to interact with one another.
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The actual situation in todays world is much closer to the diagram at the right.
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Ethical relativism maintains that we cannot make moral judgments about other cultures The corollary of this is that we are protected in principle against the judgments made by other cultures Shares this characteristic with absolutism
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Ethical Absolutism
Absolutism comes in many versions--including the divine right of kings Absolutism is less about what we believe and more about how we believe it Common elements:
There is a single Truth Their position embodies that truth
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Ethical Absolutism
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Ethical Pluralism
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Ethical Pluralism, 2
Ethical pluralism offers three categories to describe actions: Prohibited: those actions which are not seen as permissible at all
Absolutism sees the importance of this
Tolerated: those actions and values in which legitimate differences are possible
Relativism sees the importance of this
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Ethical Pluralism, 3
Prohibited--Outside
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Five Questions
What is the present state? What is the ideal state? What is the minimally acceptable state? How do we get from the present to the minimally acceptable state? How do we get from the minimum to the ideal state?
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Flash Animation
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1) Overall, the actual state of race and ethnicity in American society is:
a) B c) d) e) Excellent Very good Good Poor Terrible
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#3. What are the three most important issues facing us in regard to race and ethnicity today?
a) b) c)
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What are the minimum conditions necessary for a just society in regard to race and ethnicity? List at least three characteristics or conditions.
#1 #2 #3
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What are the ideal conditions necessary for a just society in regard to race and ethnicity? List at least three characteristics or conditions.
#1 #2 #3
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How should we get from the present to the minimally acceptable state?
How should we get from the actual state to the minimally acceptable state? List specific ways of getting from the actual state of society to the minimal conditions listed earlier.
Examples: laws, taxes, regulations, protests, civil disobedience
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How should we get from the actual state to the ideal state? List specific ways of getting from the actual state of society to the ideal conditions listed above.
Examples: Public relations campaigns, education, tax incentives, laws
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References
http://ethics.acusd.edu/socialethics/
Additional resources:
http://ethics.acusd.edu/relativism.html
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Goals Understanding
ourselves others the issue
Common Ground
agreement where appropriate living with some disagreements changing the situation
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