Global Ethical Beliefs The guiding slogan of “ethical relativism”: “when in Rome

Question

Global Ethical Beliefs

The guiding slogan of “ethical relativism”: “when in Rome, do as the Romans do.” According to this ethical philosophy, no culture has better ethics than any other and a country should not impose its ethical standards on other countries. However, pure “ethical relativism” would require the acceptance of slave labor, the dumping of toxic wastes, and even murder if local customs called for those practices. The opposite of “ethical relativism”- is “ethical imperialism.” “Ethical imperialism” is the belief that there should be a single or the same ethical standards for all cultures/countries to follow.

1. Do you primarily agree with “ethical relativism” or “ethical imperialism?” Identify at least 3 reasons/benefits for your choice?

2. What are at least 3 benefits of the ethical belief you didn’t choose in #1?

3. How would you combine or incorporate the benefits of both ethical relativism and ethical imperialism?

4. What suggestions or advice would you offer an international company/manager on how to effectively operate in different countries with different ethical standards?

Explanation / Answer

1. I agree with ethical imperialism. There is a right and wrong, whether we agree about what is right and wrong. Some things are always right and some things are always wrong irrespective of time, places and people.

·This helps us to evaluate decisions on objective basis without bias

·There are universal values which are common for all. Morality isn’t about individual or group preferences

·Prevents abuse of ethical standards by crooked men and by men without sufficient intelligence of amoral reasoning (Kohlberg’s theory of moral reasoning- some men fail to achieve the desired level of moral reasoning due to their inherent incapability)

2. I did not choose Ethical relativism- ethical relativism states that what is right is whatever one's society holds it right. Every society has different beliefs, assumptions, and values and it is objectively right or wrong.

Benefits:

·Respect and tolerance for diversity offer a harmonious society.

·Prevents one society forcing their superiority over others which happens in reality when we try to force universal ethical standards

·Inspire of arguments, morals are about assumptions, beliefs, and values, but they can never achieve the status of facts. Hence they are always prone to change. Relativism helps to promote variety of cultures

3.

Ethical imperialism and relativism can be combined with effective decision making

We can have a basic template for following ethical behavior using imperialism which says that those ethics remain same for all. This helps us to offer a fair distributive justice to all standing behind core human values. It also helps to prevent someone from performing a morally incorrect act.

At the same time, we will reflect upon using Ethical relativism to adjust our decision making base on place and culture.   

4. Both imperialism and relativism can be combined together for management and decision making by understanding and incorporating the following protocols:

·Respect for core human values

·Time and place may not matter but context matters when making whether something is ethical or not

·Respect for local values, culture, and practices

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