1. Ethics Theory and Business Practice
6.1 Ethical Relativism – Part One
Some Features of Ethical Relativism

2. 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

3. 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

4. contrasting ethical relativism to ethical universalism
across three dimensions:
the relevance of place
the nature of ethical statements
how to work out what is right and wrong

5. 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

6. 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

7. 3. how to work out what is right and wrong
emotion vs reason
ethical 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

8. ethical relativism and ethical absolutism at Jurassic Park
see Video Activity 6.1
see also Exercise 6.1a

9. ethical relativism does not provide grounds for ethical indifference
does provide good reason for ethical reflection

10. theory in practice
ethical absolutist and ethical relativist approaches to Foxconn’s employment practices
see Theory in Practice: Ethical Absolutist and Ethical Relativist Approaches to Foxconn’s Employment Practices

11. 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