Ethical Theories Presentation Ethical Relativism LP: 5 Katie Kuehn October 21, 2008.
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Transcript of Ethical Theories Presentation Ethical Relativism LP: 5 Katie Kuehn October 21, 2008.
Ethical Theories Presentation
Ethical RelativismLP: 5
Katie KuehnOctober 21, 2008
What is Ethical Relativism?• Simple observation that different
individuals and societies sometimes have different values
• No one single standard is “right”
The Rights Approach• Immanuel Kant – Individuals right to
choose for himself or herself
Kant’s Ideas– “People have dignity to choose freely
what they want to do with their lives.”–Moral Right – Choices are respected– People should not be manipulated–Moral Law/Morally Correct Laws• Lying
Critic on Kant’s Ideas
– Doesn’t determine correctness of judgment
– Doesn’t fulfill needs– Doesn’t fulfill
desires– No supreme good
Jeremy Bentham • Principal of utility– Utility- respect to a community• Make the happiness of the community
greater than any that diminishes it• Promote the greatest amount of happiness
Critic of Bentham’s Ideas• People have higher and lower
faculties • Pleasures associated with the higher
faculties are more valuable than others
• A persons actions are judged with reference to these principles
Descriptive Relativism• Moral values
different in fundamental ways
• There is a difference between people and cultures
Putting things into perspective…
Eskimo and Europeans are different on their care for the elderly
Facts to Know
• Cultures have different moral values
• Disagreements could be about facts instead of moral value– Eskimos/Europeans
Criticism of Ethical Relativism
• Moral Situations are very complex resulting in a variety of good responses
• Implies Tolerance – “live and let live”
Current Ethical
DilemmaThe Abortion Debate
There is no consensus about when abortion is appropriate
There is no “right or wrong”
Kant’s Theory on Relativism“Persons right to choose”
Review Question: 1Do all societies have generally
the same moral values?
NOEuropeans and Eskimos had
completely different views on how their elderly should be treated. What was morally expected for one, was
unheard of for the other.
Review Question: 2Did Immanuel Kant believe that every
person had the right to choose for himself/herself?
YesKant believed it was a persons “dignity” to choose what they
did or didn’t want to do in their lives
The End