Cross-Cultural Ethics & International Development: Ethical relativism vs. ethical universalism Dr. Michael McDonald W. Maurice Young Centre for Applied Ethics, UBC

Overview This class – shared expertise I work in applied ethics www.ethics.ubc.ca You work in international development Sources Hinman lecture and PowerPoint Richard Rorty, “Moral universalism and economic triage” Cross-cultural experiences

This class – shared expertise

I work in applied ethics www.ethics.ubc.ca

You work in international development

Sources

Hinman lecture and PowerPoint

Richard Rorty, “Moral universalism and economic triage”

Cross-cultural experiences

When in Rome Do as the Romans do? Do what be done in your homeland? Looks like an uncomfortable choice: Option #1: seems too relativist for major choices, e.g., human rights Option #2: seems too imperialistic, paternalistic & arrogant

Do as the Romans do?

Do what be done in your homeland?

Looks like an uncomfortable choice:

Option #1: seems too relativist for major choices, e.g., human rights

Option #2: seems too imperialistic, paternalistic & arrogant

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 don’t understand them Sometimes reasonable people may differ on what’s morally acceptable From ©Lawrence M. Hinman http://ethics.acusd.edu/values/

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 don’t understand them

Sometimes reasonable people may differ on what’s morally acceptable

From ©Lawrence M. Hinman http://ethics.acusd.edu/values/

Two Types of Relativism Descriptive ethical relativism Claims as a matter of fact that different cultures have different moral values Normative ethical relativism Claims that each culture is right unto itself From ©Lawrence M. Hinman http://ethics.acusd.edu/values/

Descriptive ethical relativism

Claims as a matter of fact that different cultures have different moral values

Normative ethical relativism

Claims that each culture is right unto itself

From ©Lawrence M. Hinman http://ethics.acusd.edu/values/

Descriptive relativism Plus: members of a culture do have “shared understandings” or ways of interacting That can be studied & taught But Cultures change & are not static There are sub-cultures Avoid “boxifying” people through the use of cultural labels

Plus: members of a culture do have

“shared understandings” or ways of interacting

That can be studied & taught

But

Cultures change & are not static

There are sub-cultures

Avoid “boxifying” people through the use of cultural labels

Normative relativism Faces a dilemma: Either it endorses universal tolerance Or it treats normative relativism as just one more relativistic assertion View #1 is a form of normative universalism View #2 is consistent but practically self-frustrating

Faces a dilemma:

Either it endorses universal tolerance

Or it treats normative relativism as just one more relativistic assertion

View #1 is a form of normative universalism

View #2 is consistent but practically self-frustrating

Ethical Relativism: Limitations Involves a solipsism Is unhelpful in dealing with overlaps of cultures--precisely where we need help. Commerce and trade Media World Wide Web Is self-defensive: if we can’t judge others, neither can they judge us

Involves a solipsism

Is unhelpful in dealing with overlaps of cultures--precisely where we need help.

Commerce and trade

Media

World Wide Web

Is self-defensive: if we can’t judge others, neither can they judge us

Ethical Relativism: Solipsism (Hinman) Sometimes we say that we can’t judge other cultures because we can’t 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?

Sometimes we say that we can’t judge other cultures because we can’t 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?

Ethical Relativism: Overlapping Cultures, 1 (Hinman) Ethical relativism suggests that we let each culture live as it sees fit This is only feasible when cultures don’t have to interact with one another.

Ethical relativism suggests that we let each culture live as it sees fit

This is only feasible when cultures don’t have to interact with one another.

Ethical Relativism: Overlapping Cultures, 2 (Hinman) The challenge of the coming century is precisely overlapping cultures: Multinational corporations International media--BBC, MTV, CNN International sports--Olympics World Wide Web

The challenge of the coming century is precisely overlapping cultures:

Multinational corporations

International media--BBC, MTV, CNN

International sports--Olympics

World Wide Web

Ethical Relativism: Overlapping Cultures, 3 (Hinman) The actual situation in today’s world is much closer to the diagram at the right.

The actual situation in today’s world is much closer to the diagram at the right.

Local ethical cultures

Ethical authoritarianism Pluses We need to make judgements Some actions are intolerable, e.g., abuses of human rights Minuses Claim of privileged access to moral truth Claim of moral infallibility Can’t learn from unbelievers

Pluses

We need to make judgements

Some actions are intolerable, e.g., abuses of human rights

Minuses

Claim of privileged access to moral truth

Claim of moral infallibility

Can’t learn from unbelievers

A via media? Ethical fallibilism as a middle way Moral claims can be mistaken We can learn from our errors and each other Need for both humility in face of uncertainty and confidence to act in face of significant choices

Ethical fallibilism as a middle way

Moral claims can be mistaken

We can learn from our errors and each other

Need for both humility in face of uncertainty and confidence to act in face of significant choices

Revisiting the Romans When in Rome, do as The worst Romans do? The average Roman does? The best Romans do? Lane & Simpson, “Bribery in international business: Whose problem is it?” JBE 1984

When in Rome, do as

The worst Romans do?

The average Roman does?

The best Romans do?

Lane & Simpson, “Bribery in international business: Whose problem is it?” JBE 1984

Richard Rorty The basic question is not “what are we?” (metaphysical) but “who are we?” (political) “Who are we?” involves a commitment to a community of reciprocal trust Reciprocal trust depends on feasibility, not just good will

The basic question is not “what are we?” (metaphysical) but “who are we?” (political)

“Who are we?” involves a commitment to a community of reciprocal trust

Reciprocal trust depends on feasibility, not just good will

Conclusion Time for stories & exchange of ideas How do you navigate cross-cultural ethical differences? How can we improve in these areas? For an ethical decision-making guide see http://www.ethics.ubc.ca/people/mcdonald/decisions.htm

Time for stories & exchange of ideas

How do you navigate cross-cultural ethical differences?

How can we improve in these areas?

For an ethical decision-making guide see

http://www.ethics.ubc.ca/people/mcdonald/decisions.htm