Ethical Questions...?

Question

Cultural Ethical Relativism


In today’s American culture, it is normal for us to say a thing is right because everyone does it. And of course this can be said of any culture. If the culture says a thing is right then it must be so. Thus, there is nothing more to ethics than the beliefs and practices of individual cultures and societies. Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?



Many people believe that is necessary for someone to be religious to make informed moral decisions. Do you believe this way? If so why, and if not why not?

Answer 1

If you want to find the best place to apply force in order to move a rock, you consult a physicist. If you want to find the best way to change a person's behaviour, you consult a psychologist. Whom do you consult if you wish to find out what are the best behaviours to have and the best ways to live? An ethicist.

Ethics, therefore, isn't just a matter of what most people do. If you asked random people to move that rock, most of the answers you'd get would be less than ideal. Why would you expect popularity, therefore, to be a good measure of the best of anything? What whole groups of people do and why is more the subject of a sociologist or a historian than an ethicist.

Which is not to say that culture plays no part in ethics. Living the good life means getting along well in society. But it is not JUST getting along well in society. The same can be said for religion - doing well in religion can also be an important part of living the good life, but it cannot be the only part either. A good life must embrace many spheres and do well in all of them.

No small task!

Answer 2

AS you say, ethics are often seen as subjective, depending on the cultural or religious norm. There is, however, a problem with this viewpoint.

If ethics were truely subjective, then we would expect to see a great diffierence from one society's ethics to another's. However, we find several common threads in the ethical views of different cultures. For example, nearly every culture is against rape, murder, and theift.

While the actual application of the moral judgements of the different societies may differ, for the most part the underlying morality is very similar. To me this indicates the existence universal moral absolutes.

Now, it becomes very difficult to explain the existence of universal moral absolutes without the existance of a supreme being. However, it is not necessary to explain the existance of the universal moral absolutes to understand what they are and to apply them. So, no I think it is possible for a non-religious person to make informed moral decisions.

This doesn't mean that they will always be right in the moral decisions that they make, but then again neither are the religious people.

Answer 3

NO I don't agree, because ethics deal with Morales; because someone else believe something is right, does this make it right no, and of course you go against the majority, that's what all great leaders do, and so do salmon, for anyone to press forward you can not go with the majority, a person must apply the principles and laws that govern that particular issue come hi or hell water, another prime example of this is eagles and chicks or chickens - click, and Eagles soar, often times when your a leader you are often alone, in your decision with only you and GOD. your answer should come a higher authority, but can come from a child.

while making decision we must ask where did my information come from?
is this person reliable?
where did they get there information from?
has there information been prov en a fact ?
how many people have had success ?
When making a decision a person should look at all factors; are they religious, spiritual, have you seen a change in them or others around themselves?
so decision are a matter of ethics, and morale character are they doing the right thing for the right reason? and not, because it feels good, or looks good, especially to those around them.
Shall A Man Gain The Whole world and Loose his own Soul
Matthew :15-16

Answer 4

I believe this borders on existentialism (does God exist, is there a purpose in life, etc...) vs. whatever is not existentialistic in some factors.
For example, we as American believe in "inherent rights" that EVERYONE in the entire world has. Many cultures believe in these inherent rights as well. I don't think it has to do with beliefs and practicies as much as it does recognition of a great idea that makes reasonable sense to people. Sure, it supports what we believe and practice (ie. I believe that I shouldn't be shot and don't go around trying to kill others). But, again, if the rights are INHERENT, they are considered to be there no matter what, regardless of cultural belief or not.
Even regarding religion, many individuals and cultures believe in one God (just to use this example, I am most familiar with this one). God has come before us, created us, therefore his law should be our law. This should not factor in belief or practices, it should simply be obeyed. In a heavily religious community, they could argue that yes they obey it because they believe in God, but that is not why it is "right." It is right because God is there whether we believe in him or not. If we disobey God's rules simply because we don't believe in him, we are still doing "wrong."
BUT, on the existentialist side, if there is no God or perhaps no real answer (that we can comprehend of) to the question "why are we here?", then yes, you are correct. How else can one determine ethics than by what will work according to an individual culture's beliefs and practices. There is nothing predetermined, so we as humans have to create answers for ourselves.
Ultimately, I feel it DOES come down to what you say, "there is nothing more to ethics than the beliefs and practices of individual cultures and societies." I do not feel that there have been any ethics that have been in place, and solidly followed since the dawn of time. Also, I do not feel that there are any "inherent" rights to warrant ethics. I DO believe in ethics that are not only beliefs and practices, but carefully reasoned before they are held strongly.

Answer 5

Ethics actually consist of rationality toward the highest level of survival for the individual; the future race; the group; planet life; the material universe; and spirituality all taken collectively. Ethics is reason. The highest ethic level would be long-term survival concepts with minimal destruction, along any of these urges for survival. It is an individual thing wherein one decides, enforces, Honor's or corrects oneself, according to those codes agreed upon toward an optimum solution of survival.

Because a whole society might agree upon some idea as 'being right' doesn't actually make it right! But you will note that it has been individuals who have brought about the change actually before others follow suit. Ethics is an individual action applied by and for self in relationship with other urges of survival, for long term survival concepts.

You will also find that since you have to look at your own actions along those long term survival concepts, you are indeed taking on a spiritual aspect in mind, as these things are more of "reason" than they are of material concern. If you will note - a piece of matter doesn't think or originate ideas too well unless helped in the process by life itself.

Answer 6

Let me ask you. The Holocaust most German's and French supported it but some people like Oscar Schindler opposed the holocaust, for any reason, and saved over 1,000 people who was more moral? The German People and Government who supported the holocaust or the People like Oscar Schindler who opposed it?

Just because the masses say it is right doesn't mean that it is right. A person can follow the masses and be safe but any wrongs or consequences must be suffered by all who followed.

Hence Oskar Schindler and his ilk were right and the Germans were wrong.

Religion is not the only reason to make a moral decision in fact the word informed means that you have knowledge that doesn't mean the religion gives you the exclusive right to morality it just shapes the way that you view morality. Many extremely Christian , Jewish, Islamic etc. people claim to to be moral but are they or are they just pompous. If they except a belief then they accept all the teachings. Remember Christ said "Do unto others as you would have others do to you." (Matthew 22.34-41, Mark12.28-34 and Luke 10-25-28) But he also said" I have come to set brother against brother, father against son, mother against daughter." (Matthew 10.21-24) Not really what you would expect from turn the other cheek but he said it. Is Christianity a peaceful or a warlike religion? Morality is the purview of all thinking men and all may do it.
Action is something that the individual does and the idividual most deal with the consequeces

Answer 7

Your statement deals more with perceived social norms, what is considered normal in one culture is considered abusive in others. For example did you know the North American way of making small children sleep alone is considered cruel by more collectivist cultures? It is seen as a form of abandonment.

So I would agree with you, ethics are practicing moral behaviors that agree with the culture in question, which is perhaps whey there is so much conflict between certain cultures because practices that are ethical to one are blasphemous to another.

But in the end ethics really boil down to morals, and despite all the laws out there, there are only two which really matter, and if you can't follow them no number of laws will make any difference. They are: 1. Do not take what is not yours to take, and 2. Do not harm others unless they give you no choice. They bible sums it up as 'do unto others as they would do unto you' and you will find most religions share this basic premise, it is in the defining of what certain actions and behaviors that are right or wrong that this basic moral gets lost and perverted to meet certain cultural standards, up to the point where people are being murdered because they don't agree with one groups interpretation of what constitutes as ethical social norms.

Answer 8

I would say it's true, yet the rich are the ones who say what is right. Society and culture really have nothing to do with it. It has been said, who ever has the money to put their ideas out there in the media to be known are the ones that get their way.

Whether you like it or not, we are all religious; people are not talking to them self in their mind. That would make no sense and have no meaning. Whether the person uses the spirit to make their decisions is another thing. We can go against our spirit; which is what is happening too often. However, religion is something different than dealing with the spirit. Religion is a group dictating their perception of the spirit. Therefore, no, a person must be of the spirit to make good decisions.

Answer 9

Let me answer the second question first: no, I don't think you have to be religious to make good, moral decisions. Every person is born with the ability to choose right from wrong. If you speak to people who grew up with parents that practiced no morals (maybe did drugs, slept around, etc.) the kids somehow, inately know that it is wrong. I've known people in this situation, and they say they just knew that it wasn't right. Maybe because of their gut instinct, or maybe because they saw the outcome of bad actions, or both.

Now back to the first question...I think that culture determines some morals and ethics, but not all. I am relgious and believe that God sets the laws. For example, just because the whole world is sleeping around and it's socially acceptable in their eyes, doesn't make it right. Just because a lot of people are living together before getting married means it's acceptable in our society but not necessarily right.

Answer 10

Being right is always subject to public concensus. If the majority disagree with what you do, then it will be judged as 'wrong' by society. THere is no need for someone to have religious beliefs to be a moral person. Most of the 'rules' laid down by religion are no more than a responsible attitude to living in society. I don't need to believe in god to think it is wrong to kill or to steal.