WHAT IS ETHICAL? Ethics has different meanings to different people.
To some, there is a fixed set of rights and wrongs that can never change. An action is either ethical or unethical, whatever the circumstances.
Others believe that there is a fixed set of rights and wrongs at any given time – but that over time this can change. Behaviour that was "right" 500 years ago may now be considered unethical.
Similarly, some believe that different ethical rules will need to exist in different countries and cultures, because people are different around the world and there cannot be one set of rights and wrongs that apply to everyone.
Others believe that right and wrong depends entirely on the circumstances, and that there are no rules as such.
In the exam, you may be required to use any of the theories in this chapter to comment on someone’s behaviour. Whether you believe their behaviour to be right or wrong will be affected by your own beliefs, so be careful! The key is to consider different behaviours and what would cause someone to do them, whether or not you agree with them! Relativism v Absolutism
Relativism A relativist believes that different sets of ethical rules are likely to exist, depending on the conditions. Thus, acceptable behaviour in the past has included slavery, child labour, and murder. In many societies today, such behaviour is considered wrong.
Thus, behaviour depends on culture, language, point in history etc. Absolutism An absolutist believes there to be one set of unchanging universal truths that always apply.
A similar distinction would be to compare pragmatic (relativism) and dogmatic (absolutism). Deontology v Teleology (Consequentialism)
Deontology Similar to the above, a deontologist believes there are certain principles that are always true, whatever the consequences. Their views are likely to have formed because they believe that a society based on these principles would be "better" than a society that is not.
As such, a deontologist would want these principles to be accepted and followed by all (e.g. by having a legal system based around them).
The word deontology is based on deon, or duty. Thus, a deontologist will feel a moral duty (maybe based on membership of a religion) to follow these principles.
To some, there is a fixed set of rights and wrongs that can never change. An action is either ethical or unethical, whatever the circumstances.
Others believe that there is a fixed set of rights and wrongs at any given time – but that over time this can change. Behaviour that was "right" 500 years ago may now be considered unethical.
Similarly, some believe that different ethical rules will need to exist in different countries and cultures, because people are different around the world and there cannot be one set of rights and wrongs that apply to everyone.
Others believe that right and wrong depends entirely on the circumstances, and that there are no rules as such.
In the exam, you may be required to use any of the theories in this chapter to comment on someone’s behaviour. Whether you believe their behaviour to be right or wrong will be affected by your own beliefs, so be careful! The key is to consider different behaviours and what would cause someone to do them, whether or not you agree with them! Relativism v Absolutism
Relativism A relativist believes that different sets of ethical rules are likely to exist, depending on the conditions. Thus, acceptable behaviour in the past has included slavery, child labour, and murder. In many societies today, such behaviour is considered wrong.
Thus, behaviour depends on culture, language, point in history etc. Absolutism An absolutist believes there to be one set of unchanging universal truths that always apply.
A similar distinction would be to compare pragmatic (relativism) and dogmatic (absolutism). Deontology v Teleology (Consequentialism)
Deontology Similar to the above, a deontologist believes there are certain principles that are always true, whatever the consequences. Their views are likely to have formed because they believe that a society based on these principles would be "better" than a society that is not.
As such, a deontologist would want these principles to be accepted and followed by all (e.g. by having a legal system based around them).
The word deontology is based on deon, or duty. Thus, a deontologist will feel a moral duty (maybe based on membership of a religion) to follow these principles.
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