MORAL RELATIVISM AND SITUATIONS

Although moral relativism and situational ethical decision-making are not exactly the same thing, they are related and we need to explore this before we examine the problems associated with the situational approach.

Moral relativism is that philosophical approach that suggests that morality is largely culturally based, that there are, in fact, no absolute rights or wrongs. For example, whereas in North America it is considered to be highly unethical to give gifts to journalists (or for journalists to accept them) to assure good publicity for something, in other parts of the world it is common, accepted and even expected practice. Are those who bribe or are bribed in this context morally inferior to those of us who would not do such a thing? Moral relativism would say ˜no. However, a public relations person or journalist in North America who does the same thing would be considered by colleagues ”and likely the public ”to have committed an ethical transgression.

It is often difficult for us to accept this concept when we have strong beliefs in our own cultural norms. But it does point out to us the difficulties in attempting to elucidate absolute rights and wrongs on the one hand, and taking a situational view of the circumstances on the other.