Moral Relativism Essay
Ethics is a moral standard that is set by society. However, these standards change as the way of life and cultural customs are different all over the world. A person’s “culture reflects the moral values and ethical norms that govern how they should behave and interact with others (Culture and Ethics)”. These changes in the ethical standards also change the moral relativism of a situation. Moral relativism is a theory where one is judged by the totality of a situation rather than the end result. Today we will discuss how the differences in cultures will affect the way people view the totality of a situation. For example, in America it is taught that we must maintain eye contact when talking to someone or being spoken to. Americans consider
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That is why it is wrong for other cultures to judge one another. Every country has its own history and values that they hold strong to. As one culture might think the other culture is wrong, technically there is no right or wrong depending on the culture of a person. Values “are the basic beliefs that an individual thinks to be true; values are very much personal while ethics is societal (Difference between ethics and values)”. Although ethics and values are two different things, the two tend to interchange and conflict with each other. For example, foreign countries like Greece and Mexico were taught that family comes first no matter what. In America we were taught as children to be educated and successful. It has been shown in the media that most successful American business men do not spend time with their children because they are always working. Most Americans do not care if the dad is present in the household at all times; as long as he is out providing for the family. Now, with countries like Greece and Mexico, they do believe men should work to take of their family however, if money is not a struggle, the man should make time for family. These two different set of values based on the way of living are now morally judged as an ethical standard as other cultures will frown at the American dad because he chooses work over family.
That is why it is wrong for other cultures to judge one another. Every country has its own history and values that they hold strong to. As one culture might think the other culture is wrong, technically there is no right or wrong depending on the culture of a person. Values “are the basic beliefs that an individual thinks to be true; values are very much personal while ethics is societal (Difference between ethics and values)”. Although ethics and values are two different things, the two tend to interchange and conflict with each other. For example, foreign countries like Greece and Mexico were taught that family comes first no matter what. In America we were taught as children to be educated and successful. It has been shown in the media that most successful American business men do not spend time with their children because they are always working. Most Americans do not care if the dad is present in the household at all times; as long as he is out providing for the family. Now, with countries like Greece and Mexico, they do believe men should work to take of their family however, if money is not a struggle, the man should make time for family. These two different set of values based on the way of living are now morally judged as an ethical standard as other cultures will frown at the American dad because he chooses work over family.