Free Will & Ethical Relativism concepts

• Ethical Relativism, Free Will and Business Ethics concepts explained

Examples of Free Will

• Personal growth
• Voting in elections
• Choosing a career
• Moral choices

Main Features of Free Will

• Autonomy: Individuals have control over their decisions.
• Ethical Responsibility: People can distinguish right from wrong and are accountable for their choices.
• Independence: Human actions are not entirely determined by biological or environmental factors.

Criticisms of Free Will

• External Influences: Decisions may still be influenced by genetics, upbringing, and societal norms.
• Neuroscience: Neuroscientific studies suggest that brain activity may determine choices before conscious awareness. -Extreme Situations: Free will may be limited in extreme situations, such as coercion or mental illness.

FREE WILL, MORAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND DETERMINISM

• A debate explores whether humans have control over their actions or whether their choices are predetermined by external forces.
• Free Will means the ability to make choices independently, without being entirely controlled by external forces or deterministic factors

4 C's Activity

• How does ethical relativism affect how we judge other cultures' behavior?
• What happens if two cultures disagree on what is morally right, according to moral absolutism?
• If you were a traveler visiting different cultures, how would you react if their moral rules were very different from your own?
• What is the difference between deciding because you want to and deciding because you must?
• Have you ever done something that you later regretted?
• Do you believe that people can truly change, or do you believe their past always defines who they are?

Examples of Moral Absolutism

• Universal human rights
• Murder is wrong

Criticisms of Moral Absolutism

• Lack of Flexibility: Moral absolutism can be rigid, ignoring cultural diversity and the complexity of human societies.
• Difficulty in Resolving Moral Dilemmas: It may not provide clear answers in situations where ethical principles conflict, such as balancing honesty with compassion.
• Interpretation Variation: Even if universal moral values exist, different cultures and individuals may interpret and apply them differently based on context.

Main Features of Moral Responsibility

-Intentionality: The individual's intention behind an action is important in determining moral responsibility.

• Actions done with deliberate intent carry more moral weight than those done accidentally.
• Awareness: A person must understand the potential consequences of their actions and be aware of the ethical implications before deciding.
• Capacity: Moral responsibility assumes that the person is capable of understanding right from wrong.
• Often considered in the context of age, mental health, or other factors that might impair decision-making.