Ethical Relativism

Ethical Relativism

Define ethical relativism.

Ethical relativism is stated as a "normative theory that states there is no universal moral code and that each culture's codes are right and valid for that culture. (Rosanstand pg.120) Dictionary.com defines ethical relativism as the belief that nothing is objectively right or wrong and that the definition of right and wrong depends on the prevailing view of a particular individual, culture, or historical period. (The American Heritage)

Is the corrupt behavior you identified considered normal behavior? If so, by whom?

I choose to use the first example of my store manager saying that he did not agree to a deal with the customer to provide her a service at the agreed upon price negotiated between both parties. He agreed to the deal so he lied to the customer costing her time and money so that he can get a commission by committing a corrupt act towards getting the sale. This type of behavior is considered normal in this industry with is sales, because the employee job consist of three major things 1) hitting the goals that are set by the company (some of which are so unattainable that it leads to a corrupt culture) 2) The employee wages are based on commission (so this means the more you sell the more you make) 3) pressure that comes from the management about your job performance. These types of actions starts at the top (shareholders, area managers, and store managers) they will tell their employees to treat the customers with respect, be honest, forthright and treat every like they would want to be treated; but then with a wink of the eye will tell you to sell the products at all cost, do not tell the customers everything that they need to know and even lie to them. Since culture is defined as the behaviors and beliefs characteristics of a particular social, ethic or age group (The American Heritage), so in a social group with sales people this type of corrupt behavior is normal and even thought to be an acceptable practice.

Does the fact that the behavior is or is not normal make it good or bad behavior?

This is difficult to answer because here in America there are so many subcultures to the majority culture that one's moral belief of what is good and bad behavior can vary from person to person and from culture to culture. James Rachel had three values that he believed should be universal to all cultures one of them was a rule against lying. He believed that a society will stop if we lied to each other because of an lack of communication, but as stated in chapter three "as a member of a society, you are expected not to lie to or murder members from your own social group, but there is nothing preventing you from being morally free to lie through your teeth to an outsider or an enemy government. (Rosanstand pg. 136) So as social group sales people really do not have a moral obligation to tell you the truth, so the question is that since we know that this behavior is normal does this make it a good or bad behavior? For me personally, it would be considered bad behavior because of my ethical and moral beliefs that was instilled in me, but in the society that we live in it is considered a normal practice to get money