From another board.
(me)
"Teaching" ethics should be conducted in the same manner as other types of teaching. Discussion and questioning should be encouraged, and whoever asks of anyone to be virtuous should be striving for that road him/herself.
Ethical theory is central to my degree in philosophy, and makes up a great deal of my thinking and everyday life. Ethical practice and thought do not necessarily belong to Religion in the way many are using the word here. If you want to learn virtue and ethics you should be able to find them almost everywhere......not just in a building dedicated to a religion. (If it is, one runs the risk of understanding ethics as simply "opinions" and not a basis for human need, human society, and cultural richness.)
Take care.
And.....
There's not too big a difference between ethics and "Morality" with a capital M. It's become somewhat a game of semmantics.
I at times use the terms "ethics" and "morality" and "virtue" interchangebly. For the most part I use the word ethics because for some reason people tend to be less defensive of that word. Even though to me it really means the same thing.
I believe in norm relativity, not moral relativity.
If objective ethical standards exist for the world's people, that ethical standard doesn't change because a few do not wish to follow those standards.
Take the idea of friendship. In order to be a good "friend" in the definition of the word, one must put effort into the relationship by being trustworthy, kind, helpful, etc.
Say Sam and I are "friends." Sam, however, stabs me in the back numerous times, lies to me, is cruel, etc. Our "friendship" then will dissolve. This doesn't mean that friendship is relative, it simply means that "Sam" for what ever reason chose NOT to follow the necessary aspects of being a friend.
Where most of the confusion takes place in ethical/moral complexities is usually within surface level differences between people, cultures, etc.
Case in point. Say we have a culture that eats the remains of its dead. We will call it Culture A.
We also have a culture that does not eat its dead. But buries them in the ground instead. We will call it Culture B.
Culture B is horrified at Culture A, and claims that culture A is "immoral" because they eat the dead (something culture B thinks is wrong.)
Culture A thinks burying the dead in the dirty ground is immoral, and claims that Culture B is immoral!
Now it looks like we have a problem that only "moral relativity" can solve. But it's not the case.
If we look past surface level differences in cultural practice, and look at the MOTIVATION behind said practices we find that....
Both Culture A and Culture B do what they do to HONOR THE DEAD. Both think that it is moral to respect the dead of their society.
This is the same moral. The same Ethic. It is only showing itself in different cultural ways.
When Culture A and B can see this. Harmony will be made.
So when someone chooses not to follow the definition of ethical or moral codes, it does not mean morality is relative or non-existent. It simply means that person chooses not to follow it.
That's about all I'll say on the issue.
"Ethics serve society and culture, enhance existence..
(From another poster)
It is all too easy to dismiss our social and humane responsibilities in favor of some macho "dark art" BS.. much more difficult to teach by example.. We make choices, we can choose to contribute to social harmony or to incite social chaos.. As teachers we should accept the responsibility of our actions. We exist as a collective interdependent society, no man is an island (note to self, that sounds familiar).. In the now infamous quote "better to be a warrior in the garden than a gardener in the war".. implies that the garden is the better place to be regardless of martial prowess.. Cultivate peace, be prepared for war..
We can teach neither morals nor ethics.. we can only live the example and offer guidance.. "
(me)
I agree with this 110% I couldn't have put it better myself.
Fortunately, the idea of Universal Ethics is gaining popularity around the globe. My thesis and graduate studies revolve around this.
Take care,
Ryu
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Sekkendo...
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