The assigned reading was highly informative as it explained the most popular ethical theories and their application. The discussion provided by the authors helped to relate ethical theories to real-life through examples and cases. The two ethical theories discussed in the reading that I found the most interesting were utilitarianism and ethical relativism. The present paper will offer a reflection on the topic.
Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that evaluates actions in terms of their consequences. While it is somewhat similar to consequentialist ethics, utilitarianism posits that the best action is the one that brings the most good to the highest number of persons. I believe that this ethical theory has numerous useful applications in the contemporary world and that it could be used to fix prominent issues. For example, in politics, utilitarianism could be used as a foundation for national programs that improve population health, education, and other important policy aspects.
Ethical relativism, on the other hand, is an ethical theory that argues that all ethical decisions are subject to perspective. As a result, what is ethical from one person’s viewpoint could be considered unethical by other people.
However, this does not mean that the decision was ultimately unethical. The principles of ethical relativism are justified by cultural and moral differences that exist among people, which is why this theory is particularly relevant in the age of globalization. Nevertheless, I feel like there are fewer opportunities to apply ethical relativism to global issues evident in the contemporary world. Rather, it could be used to avoid disputes and conflicts on the individual level, thus improving people’s understanding of other person’s actions and motives.