Ethics Theory and

Business Practice

6.1 Ethical Relativism – Part OneSome Features of Ethical Relativism

aims

• to outline some ways in which an ethical-relativist approach to business ethics differs from an ethical-absolutist approach

• explain why ethical relativism does not necessarily entail ethical indifference

ethical relativism

• challenges the idea that the same standards of ethics should apply everywhere

• is concerned with exploring variations in people’s attitudes towards ethics and considering why these variations might exist

• puts a lot of emphasis on ethical autonomy; encourages people to give expression to their own, deepest ethical convictions

contrasting ethical relativism to ethical universalism

across three dimensions:1. the relevance of place2. the nature of ethical statements3. how to work out what is right and wrong

1. the relevance of place

relativism vs universalism• ethical absolutism seeks universal standards

that can be applied everywhere• ethical relativists explore differences that are

relative to place

2. the nature of ethical statements

subjectivism vs objectivism• ethical absolutism seeks objective truths

about ethics• ethical relativism considers that ethics may be

a matter of subjective opinion

3. how to work out what is right and wrong

emotion vs reasonethical absolutism emphasises the role that reason plays in ethical judgement

ethics involves detached, dispassionate application of abstract, theoretically derived principles

ethical relativism emphasises the role that emotion plays in ethical judgement

highlights the importance of proximity to ethics

ethical relativism and ethical absolutism at Jurassic Park

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Nz8YrCC9X8

ethical relativism

• does not provide grounds for ethical indifference

• does provide good reason for ethical reflection

theory in practice

ethical absolutist and ethical relativist approaches to Foxconn’s employment practices

key points

• ethical relativism offers different ways of thinking about business ethics from ethical absolutist theories

• ethical relativism does not justify indifference about business ethics