Question.3279 - Ethical relativism holds that ethical values are relative to particular people, cultures, or times. Relativism denies that there can be any rationally justified or objective ethical judgments. When there are ethical disagreements between people or cultures, the ethical relativist concludes that there is no way to resolve that dispute and prove one side is right or more reasonable than the other. Consider Edward Liddy’s description of the AIG bonuses as “distasteful.” Ordinarily we think of matters of taste as personal, subjective things. You enjoy spicy Indian food, while I prefer simple Midwestern meat and potatoes. It is all a matter of personal taste. Liddy may have found the bonuses distasteful, but others like the taste in food; it all depends on or is all relative to one’s own background, culture and personal opinions. Do you believe that there is no way to decide what is ethically right or wrong? Imagine a teacher returns an assignment to you with the grade of “F”. When you ask for an explanation you are told that frankly the teacher does not believe that people “like you” are capable of doing good work in this field. When you object that this is unfair and wrong the teacher offers a relativist explanation. “Fairness is a matter of personal opinion,” the professor explains. “Who determines what is fair or unfair?” you ask. Your teacher claims that his view of what is fair is as valid as any other. Because everyone is entitled to their own personal opinion, he is entitled to fail you since, in his personal opinion you do not deserve to succeed. Discuss the following questions related to this scenario: 1. Would you accept this explanation and be content with your failing grade? If not, how would you defend your own, opposing view? 2. Are there any relevant facts on which you would rely on to support your claim? 3. What values are involved in this dispute? 4. What alternatives are available to you? 5. Besides you and your teacher, are there any other people who are or should be involved in this situation, any other stakeholders? 6. What reasons would you offer to the dean in an appeal to have the grade changed? 7. What consequences would this professor’s practice have on education? 8. If reasoning and logical persuasion do not work, how else could this dispute be resolved? Other than reasoning and logical persuasion, what is the major alternative for resolving conflicts? Of course, the most common alternatives have been force and violence.
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If x would xxxx been xx place xx the xxxxxxx then xxxxxxxxxx I xxxxx have xxx accepted xxx explanation xxx would xxxxxx content xxxx the xxxxxxx grade xxxxxxx no xxx can xxxxx whether xxx people xxx capable xx doing xxxx work xx not xxxx the xxxxxxx believed xxxx the xxxxxx like xxx are xxx capable xx doing xxx ldquo xxxx work xxxxx which xx not xxxxxxx on xxx part xx the xxxxxxx a xxxxxxx is xxxxxxxx as x guide x philosopher xxx a xxxxxx too xx if xxx pe xxxx is xxx capable xx doing xxx good xxxx ldquo xx rdquo xx supposed xx teach xxx instead xx giving xxxx relativist xxxxxxx Everybody xxxx on xxxx earth xxx a xxxxxx Quality xxx so xxxxxx can xx good xxxx in xxx field xxxxxx comes xxxxxxxx or xxxxxxx person xxxx their xxxxxx rsquo x womb xxxx learn xx from xxxxx parents xxx are xxxxxxxx as xxx first xxx the xxxxxxxx teacher xx the xxxxx or xxxx their xxxxxxx So xxxx kind xx behavior xx not xxxxxxxx from xxx Teacher xx it xx not xxxxxxx Yes x would xxxx on xx support xx my xxxxx because xx is xxxxxxxx for xxx student xx rather xxx any xxxxxx to xxx about xxxxx performance xxxxxx we xxx call xx to xx our xxxxx to xxx the xxxxxx for xxx doing xx if xxx student xxx asked xxx Question xxx his xxxxx ldquo x rdquo xxx Teacher xxxxxxx replies xxx that xxxxxx like xx is xxx capable xx doing xxxx work xxxxxxx this xx not xxxxxxx on xxx part xx the xxxxxxx She xxxxx have xxxxxxx in xx ethical xxxxxx by xxxxxxxxxxxx the xxxxxxxxx of xxx student xxx not xx giving xxx any xxxxxxxxxx remark xxx could xxxx answered xxx student xxxxxxxx and xxxxxx have xxxxx him xxxx to xxxxxxx his xxxx So xxxxxxxxx to xx this xxxx of xxxxxxxx does xxx suit x profession xx a xxxxxxx The xxxxx of xxxxxxxx Truthfulness xxx Ethics xxx involved xx this xxxxxxx between xxx student xxx the xxxxxxx because xxx student xxx asked xxxxx the xxxxxxxx of xxx grade xxx the xxxxxxx gives xxx a xxxxxxxxxx comment xxxxxxx him xxxx ldquo xxxxxxxx is x matter xx personal xxxxxxx rdquo xxxxxxxx is xxx a xxxxxx of xxxxxxxx opinion xxx should xxxx a xxxxxx justification xxxxxxx a xxxxxxxx or xxx transparency xx the xxxxxx Things xxx fair xxxx when xxxx are xxxxxxxxxx with xxx ethics xxx example xxxxxxxx garbage xx the xxxx is xxx fair xxxxxxx no xxxxxxx value xxx associated xxxx it xxxxxxx people xxx rsquo x regard xx fair xxx be xxxxxx who xx this xxxxxxxx work xxxxxx it xx do xx but xx can xxxxx t xx regarded xx fair xxxxxx because xx likes xx do xxxx kind xx work xxx need xx be xxxxxxxx in xxx deed xxxxx he xxxxxxx or xxxxxxx and xx should xx fair xxxxxx forming xxx point xx other xxxxx also xxxxxxxx it xxxxxx be xxxxxx by xxx values xx ethics xxx other xxxxxxxxxxxx which xx available xx me xx that x could xxxx compared xx work xxxx the xxxxx classmates xx mine xx else xxxxx have xxxxx other xx go xxxxxxx my xxxx so xxxx I xxxxx have x knowledge xxxxx my xxxx and xxxx I xxxxx again xxxxxx my xxxxxxx and xxxxx ask xxx about xxx wrong xxxxxx or xxx mistakes xxxxx I xxxx committed xx my xxxx And xxxxx surely xxxx sure xxx to xxxxxx any xxxx sort xx mistakes xxx again xx the xxxxxx Yes xxxxxx me xxx my xxxxxxxx the xxxxx person xxx should xxxx been xxxxxxxx in xxxx dispute xxx the xxxxxxxxx and xxx other xxxxxxx I xxxxx have xxxxx the xxxx to xxx my xxxx reviewed xxxxx and xxxx would xxxx asked xxx for xxxxxxxx my xxxxx This xxxx of xxxxxxxx by xxx teacher xxxxx have xxxxxxxx effect xx the xxxxxxxxx system xxxx dispute xxxxx have xxxxxxxx through xxx modesty xxx truthfulness xx the xxxxxxx And xxx by xxxxx or xxxxxxxx because xxxx kind xx behavior xx not xxxxxxxMore Articles From Ethics