Understanding Ethical Values and Frameworks

What Are Values?

Values define what is worthwhile, beneficial, important, useful, and desirable for people. They influence feelings, attitudes, and behaviors. Values encompass various types, including economical, aesthetical, and moral/ethical values.

Values and Facts

Ethical questions are challenging because value judgments (e.g., good, bad, beautiful, fair) cannot be proven true or false. While facts like "grass is green" or "the earth is round" are provable, concepts like the morality of racism or murder are not.

Different Conceptions of Ethics

1. Situational Ethics

In situational ethics, right and wrong depend on the specific situation. There are no universal moral rules or rights; each case is unique. This approach emphasizes flexible guidelines over absolute rules, with decisions made on a case-by-case basis. Originating in a Christian context, situational ethics applies in secular settings as well. It prioritizes respect for individuals, communities, and their values.

2. Emotivism

Emotivism posits that moral statements express personal emotions or feelings. Saying something is "right" or "wrong" merely reflects personal feelings and an attempt to evoke similar feelings in others. Emotivism argues against the existence of right or wrong principles, as feelings are subjective. It separates morality from truth and reason.

3. Ethical Relativism

Ethical relativism asserts that right and wrong are culture-specific. It denies the existence of universally superior cultures, values, beliefs, or practices. While rejecting ethnocentrism, ethical relativism presents challenges. The existence of multiple viewpoints on morality doesn't imply all views are equally valid.

4. Ethical Universalism

Ethical universalism maintains that certain actions are inherently right or wrong, irrespective of consequences or intentions. It advocates for the universal application of moral values to all individuals.