ETHICS

FREEDOM AS
FOUNDATION FOR
MORAL ACTS
 WHAT IS FREEDOM?

The opportunity to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance, making decision and
getting done.

Different types of Freedom

•freedom to be alive
•freedom of association
•freedom of belief
•freedom of speech
•freedom to express our self

Freedom is important in our life. It is the power which people have opportunity to speak, express
feelings, joy, love, excitement, aliveness, happiness and fulfilment in life.
 WHAT IS MORAL ACT?

- Concerned with the principles of right and wrong behavior and the goodness or badness of

human character.

- Just to give a limit to the people, limit to know what would be the right or wrong decision to

be made.
 IMMANUEL KANT'S MORALITY AND FREEDOM

To act freely is to act autonomously . To act autonomously is to act according to the law I

give myself.

For Kant, acting freely and acting morally are

one and the same thing.

 WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP OF FREEDOM

AND MORALITY?

We h av e freedo m t o do t h i n g s a n d t o d eci d e t h i n g s f o r o u r s el v es b u t mo r al i t y t each u s

t o ch o ose fro m r i ght an d t h e wr o n g b eh av i o r.

 REASON WHY MORAL ACT ESTABLISHED

Is that for the people to use their freedom in a way that they won't harm anyone, for to

not abuse their freedom and to give a limitation to it.

WHY FREEDOM BECOME THE FOUNDATION OF MORAL ACTS?

Because we people have its own freedom, and there is no limits onto it, and that is the

main reason why freedom is base on the moral act, is to just to give a limit to the

people. Limit to know what would be the right or wrong decision to be made.
 WHAT HAPPEN IF THERE IS NO FREEDOM?

People are slavery or bondage

WHAT HAPPEN IF THERE IS NO MORALITY?

Without such rules people would not be to live amongst other human. We would not know

who to trust and expect from others.

CULTURE
 WHAT IS CULTURE?

Culture is the characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of people,

encompassing language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts. Culture
encompasses what we wear, how we wear it, our language, marriage and music is different all
over the world.

The word "culture" derives from a French term, which in turn derives from the Latin
"colere" which means to tend to the earth and grow, or cultivation and nurture , according to
Arthur Asa Berger. "It shares its etymology with a number of other words related to actively
fostering growth," De Rossi said.
 WHAT IS CULTURE IN ETHICS?
•Reflects the moral values and ethical norms governing how people should behave and interact
with others.

•Refers to the outlook, attitudes, values, goals, and practices shared by a group, organization,
or society.

•Interpretation of what is moral is influenced by cultural norms, and different cultures can
have different beliefs about what is right and wrong.

•Describes a collective way of life, or way of doing things. It is the sum of attitudes, values,
goals, and practices shared by individuals in a group, organization, or society.
 HOW DOES IT DEFINE OUR MORAL BEHAVIOR?

•Our culture shapes the way we work and play, and it makes a difference in how we view
ourselves and others. It affects our values—what we consider right and wrong. This is how
the society we live in influences our choices. But our choices can also influence others and
ultimately help shape our society.

•Culture plays a significant role in shaping people’s behaviors. Humans start to expose to
culture the day they are born and they learn cultural values through their everyday life
interacting with the people and environments around them.
The cultural values often help us in guiding our behaviors and provide us a context in helping
us identify the proper way of responding to various situations.

•Culture can help to determine human behaviors because culture can influence individuals’
psychological processes, development of self, and motivation. However, individual
differences should also be examined in determining people’s behaviors.

•Humans’ behaviors are often guided by their culture because culture can influence their
psychological processes.
 CULTURAL
RELATIVISM
 WHAT IS CULTURAL RELATIVISM?

- the ability to understand a culture on its own terms and not to make judgments using the

standards of one's own culture. The goal of this is promote understanding of cultural practices

that are not typically part of one's own culture.

 ADVANTAGE OF
RECOGNIZING OF THE
DIFFERENCE AND DANGERS
OF THE POSITION.
Recognizing the differences and dangers of cultural relativism can have several advantages.
It can help individuals understand and appreciate different cultures, which can lead to
greater tolerance and respect for diversity. It can also help prevent ethnocentrism, which is
the belief that one's own culture is superior to others. However, it is important to recognize
that cultural relativism has its limitations. For example, it may not be able to provide a
universal standard for human rights or ethical behavior. Additionally, it may lead to
discrimination against people who are different. Therefore, it is important to approach
cultural relativism with a critical eye and recognize its potential drawbacks .
Recognizing the difference and dangers of the position in cultural relativism can be
advantageous because it promotes universal respect for different cultures and countries.
However, cultural relativism also has its disadvantages, such as encouraging individuals to
form alliances with those who have similar perspectives instead of sharing different
outcomes. It is important to understand that cultural relativism challenges our ordinary
belief in the objectivity and universality of moral truth. Therefore, recognizing the
advantages and disadvantages of cultural relativism can help us navigate complex situations
where we encounter different cultures and beliefs.
STRENGTHS
AND
WEAKNESSES
 STRENGTHS OF CULTURAL RELATIVISM
1. Promotes cooperation .
Humanity is strong because of the differences they have. Every individual has a different
perspective that is based on their upbringing, experiences, and personal thoughts. By
embracing the differences they have, the cooperation creates the potential for a stronger
society. Each individuals definition of success allows them to pursue stronger bonds with
one another and potentially achieve more.

2. Creates a society where equality is possible.

In any society, people rise by climbing on top of other people. It is a socially acceptable way of
creating discrimination. Cultural relativism allows the individual to define their moral code
without defining the moral code of others. Each person is separate in such a society. That
separation creates equality because each person can set their own definition of success.
 3. People can pursue a genuine interest.
In the modern society, people are funneled toward certain career options because of their
circumstances. In cultural relativism, people get to pursue their own interests without
restriction. They set the definitions of what they can have and what they cannot have. When
implemented successfully, each person would get to focus on their strengths instead of their
weaknesses.

4. Respect is encouraged .
People come from different cultures. They have different ideas. They pursue different
definitions of success. Because such a system promotes the individual’s definition instead of a
group definition, a society can evolve because there is a natural level of respect built into the
process. Each person is naturally given the right to pursue life through their own specific
perspective and then learn from their experiences in a way that works best for them .
5. Preserves human cultures .

Humanity is a very diverse set of thoughts, traditions, ideas, and practices. Many times, the
traditions of humanity are set aside so that a group set of standards can be appeased. Under
the theory of cultural relativism, such a trade would not be necessary. It wouldn’t even be a
consideration.

6. Creates a society without judgment .

Under the theory of cultural relativism, judgment goes away. The only person that judges
you is yourself. People who might disagree with you are able to set their own codes and
standards for their own individualistic bubble. Instead of worrying about others, you only
worry about yourself.
7 . Moral relativism can be excluded from cultural relativism .
Each culture can be treated as an individual under the theory of cultural relativism. This means
that the moral codes of a culture can be defined and an expectation implemented that people
follow it. Although other cultures may not set-up such a restriction, and others might say such
a restriction isn’t a true form of cultural relativism, people in such a system can do what makes
the most sense for them. You’re focusing on the customs of a culture, not the morality that is
imposed upon those customs.

8. Create personal moral codes based on societal standards.

To determine if a decision would be “right” or “wrong,” cultural relativism allows individuals
to consult with the standards of their society or culture. It is a simple test to determine the
course that a person should take in such a circumstance. Although this process can allow for
disturbing results, most cultures are based on inclusion instead of exclusion. It is only in
structures where apartheid, segregation, or purging where disturbing outcomes are typically
present.
9. It stops cultural conditioning.

People tend to adapt their attitudes, thoughts, and beliefs to the people they are with
on a regular basis. This is cultural conditioning and it prevents people from having
an individualistic perspective. Cultural relativism stops this.
 WEAKNESSES OF CULTURAL RELATIVISM
1 . Creates a system that is fueled by personal bias.
Every society has a certain natural bias to it because of how humanity operates. People tend to
prefer to be with others who have similar thoughts and feelings, so they segregate themselves
into neighborhoods, communities, and social groups that share specific perspectives. When
people are given the power to define their own moral code, then they will do so based on their
own personal bias. There is no longer a group perspective. People follow their own code at the
expense of others.

2. Create chaos.
People who can follow their own moral code because there is no “wrong” or “right” would be
allowed to pursue any life they preferred under the theory of cultural relativism. There is no
real way to protect people in such a society, so each person becomes responsible to protect
themselves. It creates a system that is Darwinian in practicality, where only the strongest can
survive.
3 . An idea that is based on the perfection of humanity.
Many people strive to do good every day. Most want to see everyone have the chance to
pursue happiness in some way. That is why the idea of cultural relativism often seems to be
inviting. The only problem is that people are not perfect. Without a group moral code in
place to govern decisions, anything could happen when we experience these moments of
imperfection.

4. Promote a lack of diversity.

Cultural relativism promotes an individualistic point of view, so although it seems to
promote diversity, it actually removes it from a society. The only standards that are in place
are those which are set by the individual involved, which means everyone is pursuing their
own position of strength. We cannot create diversity when the emphasis of a society is
individualistic gain that can come at the expense of others.
5. Draws people away from one another.
Although cultural relativism can promote people coming together to share their strengths, it
can also encourage people to draw apart from one another. C.S. Lewis, in his description of
Hell from The Screwtape Letters, envisions a place where people are constantly going away
from each other to avoid the demons that each person has. Because each person is uncertain
of what codes and standards another is following, the natural inclination for self-
preservation causes people to draw away .

6. Limit moral progress.

When we look at the idea of moral progress, we think of becoming more inclusionary instead
of exclusionary. This inclusion is reflected in the laws and customs of the culture. Within the
society, either choice would be seen as moral progress, but in reality, it could hold people
back.
7. Limit humanity’s progress .
We often think of the concept of cultural relativism as progression, but it isn’t necessarily
that way. When you remove the ability to judge one standard from another, then the
comparative process of placing a current society or culture against a past one is removed as
well. No definition of success can be implemented because each is successful in its own
way.

8. Can turn perceptions into truths.

In the world of cultural relativism, bias becomes a truth that can be acted upon. The
decision to act becomes a righteous one because of the individual truth that the culture
allowed through the bias it perpetrates.
THANK
YOU