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Cross-Cultural Ethics & Cross-Cultural Ethics & International Development:International Development:

Ethical relativism vs. Ethical relativism vs. ethical universalismethical universalism

Dr. Michael McDonaldDr. Michael McDonaldW. Maurice Young Centre for W. Maurice Young Centre for

Applied Ethics, UBCApplied Ethics, UBC

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OverviewOverview

This class – shared expertiseThis class – shared expertise• I work in applied ethics I work in applied ethics

www.ethics.ubc.cawww.ethics.ubc.ca• You work in international developmentYou work in international development

SourcesSources• Hinman lecture and PowerPointHinman lecture and PowerPoint• Richard Rorty, “Moral universalism and Richard Rorty, “Moral universalism and

economic triage”economic triage”• Cross-cultural experiencesCross-cultural experiences

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When in RomeWhen in Rome

1.1. Do as the Romans do?Do as the Romans do?

2.2. Do what be done in your homeland?Do what be done in your homeland?

Looks like an uncomfortable choice:Looks like an uncomfortable choice:

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

Option #2: seems too imperialistic, Option #2: seems too imperialistic, paternalistic & arrogantpaternalistic & arrogant

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Ethical RelativismEthical Relativism

Ethical relativism has several important Ethical relativism has several important insights:insights:

The need for tolerance and The need for tolerance and understandingunderstanding

The fact of moral diversityThe fact of moral diversity We should not pass judgment on We should not pass judgment on

practices in other cultures when we practices in other cultures when we don’t understand themdon’t understand them

Sometimes reasonable people may Sometimes reasonable people may differ on what’s morally acceptablediffer on what’s morally acceptable

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

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Two Types of RelativismTwo Types of Relativism

Descriptive ethical relativismDescriptive ethical relativism• Claims as a matter of fact that Claims as a matter of fact that

different cultures have different different cultures have different moral valuesmoral values

Normative ethical relativismNormative ethical relativism• Claims that each culture is right Claims that each culture is right

unto itselfunto itself From From ©Lawrence M. Hinman ©Lawrence M. Hinman

http://ethics.acusd.edu/values/http://ethics.acusd.edu/values/

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Descriptive relativismDescriptive relativism

Plus: members of a culture do have Plus: members of a culture do have • ““shared understandings” or ways of shared understandings” or ways of

interactinginteracting• That can be studied & taughtThat can be studied & taught

ButBut• Cultures change & are not staticCultures change & are not static• There are sub-culturesThere are sub-cultures• Avoid “boxifying” people through the Avoid “boxifying” people through the

use of cultural labelsuse of cultural labels

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Normative relativismNormative relativism

Faces a dilemma:Faces a dilemma:1.1. Either it endorses universal toleranceEither it endorses universal tolerance

2.2. Or it treats normative relativism as just Or it treats normative relativism as just one more relativistic assertionone more relativistic assertion

View #1 is a form of normative View #1 is a form of normative universalismuniversalism

View #2 is consistent but practically View #2 is consistent but practically self-frustratingself-frustrating

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Ethical Relativism: LimitationsEthical Relativism: Limitations Involves a solipsismInvolves a solipsism Is Is unhelpfulunhelpful in dealing with in dealing with

overlaps of cultures--precisely overlaps of cultures--precisely where we need help.where we need help.• Commerce and tradeCommerce and trade• MediaMedia• World Wide WebWorld Wide Web

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

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Ethical Relativism:Ethical Relativism:Solipsism Solipsism (Hinman)(Hinman)

Sometimes we say that we Sometimes we say that we can’t judge other cultures can’t judge other cultures because we can’t fully because we can’t fully understand them.understand them.

Do we need full Do we need full understanding to judge understanding to judge something?something?

Do we even have full Do we even have full understanding of ourselves?understanding of ourselves?

Would this eliminate Would this eliminate anthropology as a anthropology as a discipline?discipline?

Does it deny a main goal of Does it deny a main goal of multiculturalism?multiculturalism?

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Ethical Relativism:Ethical Relativism:Overlapping Cultures, 1 Overlapping Cultures, 1 (Hinman)(Hinman)

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

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

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Ethical Relativism:Ethical Relativism:Overlapping Cultures, 2 Overlapping Cultures, 2 (Hinman)(Hinman)

The challenge of the The challenge of the coming century is coming century is precisely precisely overlapping overlapping cultures:cultures:• Multinational corporationsMultinational corporations• International media--BBC, International media--BBC,

MTV, CNNMTV, CNN• International sports--International sports--

OlympicsOlympics• World Wide WebWorld Wide Web

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Ethical Relativism:Ethical Relativism:Overlapping Cultures, 3Overlapping Cultures, 3 (Hinman) (Hinman)

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

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Local ethical culturesLocal ethical cultures

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Ethical authoritarianismEthical authoritarianism

PlusesPluses• We need to make judgementsWe need to make judgements• Some actions are intolerable, e.g., Some actions are intolerable, e.g.,

abuses of human rightsabuses of human rights MinusesMinuses

• Claim of privileged access to moral truthClaim of privileged access to moral truth• Claim of moral infallibilityClaim of moral infallibility• Can’t learn from unbelieversCan’t learn from unbelievers

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A via media?A via media?

Ethical fallibilism as a middle wayEthical fallibilism as a middle way• Moral claims can be mistakenMoral claims can be mistaken• We can learn from our errors and each We can learn from our errors and each

otherother• Need for both humility in face of Need for both humility in face of

uncertainty and confidence to act in uncertainty and confidence to act in face of significant choicesface of significant choices

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Revisiting the RomansRevisiting the Romans

When in Rome, do asWhen in Rome, do as• The worst Romans do?The worst Romans do?• The average Roman does?The average Roman does?• The best Romans do?The best Romans do?

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

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Richard RortyRichard Rorty

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

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

3.3. Reciprocal trust depends on Reciprocal trust depends on feasibility, not just good willfeasibility, not just good will

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ConclusionConclusion

Time for stories & exchange of ideasTime for stories & exchange of ideas How do you navigate cross-cultural How do you navigate cross-cultural

ethical differences? ethical differences? How can we improve in these areas?How can we improve in these areas? For an ethical decision-making guide For an ethical decision-making guide

seeseehttp://www.ethics.ubc.ca/people/mcdonald/decisions.htmhttp://www.ethics.ubc.ca/people/mcdonald/decisions.htm