ETHICAL THEORIES IN THE 21ST CENTURY

ETHICAL THEORIES IN THE 21ST CENTURY

guide decisions concerning right and wrong in a complex, globalized world.

ETHICAL THEORIES IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Additionally, they balance individual freedom with social responsibility.

ETHICAL THEORIES IN THE 21ST CENTURY

They also emphasize cultural sensitivity and respect for diverse moral beliefs. 

ETHICAL THEORIES IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Thus, 21st-century ethics seeks fair, thoughtful approaches to emerging global challenges.

Intersectional ethics 

examines the various aspects of identity, such as gender, race, class, sexuality, and

ability, combine to create unique experiences of oppression or privilege

1. Multiple Identities – 

Core Principles of Intersectional Ethics

People have overlapping identities that shape their experiences.

1. Multiple Identities – 

Example: A transgender woman may face different challenges than a cisgender woman, particularly in accessing healthcare services.

1. Interconnected Systems of Power –

 Core Principles of Intersectional Ethics

Different forms of disadvantage, such as economic hardship and

disability, often interact and cannot be understood separately.

1. Interconnected Systems of Power –

Example: A person who is both experiencing poverty and living with a disability may face challenges that are not fully captured by looking at one factor alone.

1. Social Justice and Equity

 Core Principles of Intersectional Ethics
– Intersectional ethics calls for tailored policies that address the specific needs of marginalized groups and promote equity across society.

1. Social Justice and Equity

Example: Expanding access to affordable healthcare can help meet the diverse needs of individuals across different communities.

Kimberlé Crenshaw (Born 1959)

 coined the term "intersectionality" and highlighted how race, gender, and other factors intersect in social justice issues.

Kimberlé Crenshaw (Born 1959)

She is known for her 1989 law review article, Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex.

Ethics of Care (alternatively care ethics or EoC)

 is a moral theory that emphasizes relationships, empathy, and the responsibility to care for others, particularly those who depend on us. 

Ethics of Care (alternatively care ethics or EoC)

Unlike traditional theories focused on justice or universal rules, it focuses on personal connections, emotional involvement, and context in ethical decision-making.

1. Relational and Interdependent Nature –

Key Concepts of the Ethics of Care

 Humans are inherently relational beings, and ethics should consider the impact of our actions on relationships and those we care for.

1. Relational and Interdependent Nature –

Example: In healthcare, a doctor listens to a patient's concerns and offers comfort, not just treatment, to strengthen the doctor-patient bond.

1. Moral Importance of Emotions –

 Key Concepts of the Ethics of Care

Emotions such as empathy, compassion, and concern are essential to guiding ethical behavior.

1. Moral Importance of Emotions –

Example: In education, teachers who show empathy and support struggling students foster emotional and academic growth.

1. Responsibility to Care – 

Key Concepts of the Ethics of Care

This approach emphasizes the responsibility to care for those who are

dependent on us, such as children, elderly family members, or vulnerable individuals.

1. Responsibility to Care – 

Example: Caregivers who ensure the elderly receive proper medical attention fulfill this ethical responsibility through compassionate action.

· Carol Gilligan (Born 1936) –

A psychologist and ethicist, Gilligan challenged traditional male- centered models of moral development.

· Carol Gilligan (Born 1936) –

She is best known for her book In a Different Voice (1982), which argues that women’s moral reasoning emphasizes care, relationships, and context over abstract justice principles.

Animal Ethics

examines how humans should treat animals and the moral implications of our actions towards them.

Animal Ethics

 It questions whether animals deserve moral consideration, rights, and humane treatment in areas like farming, research, and conservation. 

Animal Ethics

It intersects with environmental ethics, bioethics, and ecology, focusing on issues like animal testing, as well as pet ownership and endangered species protection.

1. Moral Consideration for Animals –

Core Principles of Animal Ethics

This concept questions whether animals have moral status and whether their well-being should influence human decisions.

1. Moral Consideration for Animals –

Example: In wildlife conservation, decisions about land use must consider the impact on animal habitats and populations.

1. Animal Rights –

Core Principles of Animal Ethics

 This principle argues that animals have inherent rights, such as the right to life and

freedom from suffering, which should be legally protected.

1. Animal Rights –

Example: Activists advocate against factory farming, arguing that animals deserve protection from cruelty and exploitation.

1. Animal Welfare – 

Core Principles of Animal Ethics

This concept ensures animals are treated humanely and their well-being is prioritized, even when used for human purposes.

1. Animal Welfare – 

Example: Ethical guidelines in research require that animals experience minimal pain and distress and be used only when necessary.

· Peter Singer (Born 1946)

 – An Australian philosopher best known for his book Animal Liberation

(1975), which argues for the ethical treatment of animals and challenges society’s views on animal rights.

· Peter Singer (Born 1946)

Singer's utilitarian approach to animal ethics stresses that the ability to suffer, rather than intelligence or species, should determine how we treat animals.

· Peter Singer 

(Born 1946)

Carol Gilligan

(Born 1936)

Kimberlé Crenshaw

(Born 1959)