Globalization and Contemporary Ethical Theories

Flashcards covering the ethical issues of globalization, intersectional ethics, ethics of care, and animal ethics based on the lecture notes.

Globalization

The process through which businesses, cultures, technologies, and individuals become interconnected and interact across national borders, encompassing the expansion of international trade, communication, and cultural exchange.

Exploitation of Labor

Globalization can lead to a "race to the bottom" where companies seek the cheapest labor available, often in countries with poor labor protections. Workers in low-income countries may be compensated far below living wages, work in unsafe conditions, or be subjected to labor rights violations.

Child Labor and Forced Labor

To reduce costs, some global supply chains exploit vulnerable individuals, including children and marginalized workers, who may face dangerous work conditions and be denied basic rights.

Job Displacement in Developed Countries

Outsourcing jobs to cheaper labor markets can lead to unemployment or wage stagnation in higher-income countries. Workers in developed nations lose jobs or face reduced job security, while companies profit from cost savings. 

Widening Economic Inequality

While globalization increases Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the gains are often unevenly distributed. Corporations and elite groups benefit significantly, while many workers remain in poverty. 

Intersectional Ethics

various aspects of identity, such as gender, race, class, sexuality, and ability, combine to create unique experiences of oppression or privilege. 

Multiple Identities

People have overlapping identities that shape their experiences.

Interconnected Systems of Power

Different forms of disadvantage, such as economic hardship and disability, often interact and cannot be understood separately.

Social Justice and Equity

The figure who coined the term "intersectionality" and highlighted social justice issues in her 1989 law review article, Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex.

Ethics of Care

A moral theory emphasizing relationships, empathy, and the responsibility to care for others, particularly those who are dependent on us, over abstract justice or universal rules.

Relational and Interdependent Nature

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

Carol Gilligan

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

The examination of how humans should treat animals and whether animals deserve moral consideration, rights, and humane treatment in areas like farming and research.

Animal Rights

The principle arguing that animals have inherent rights, such as the right to life and freedom from suffering, which should be legally protected.

Animal Welfare

A concept ensuring animals are treated humanely and that their well-being is prioritized, even when used for human purposes such as research or farming.

Peter Singer

An Australian philosopher and author of Animal Liberation (1975) who argues that the ability to suffer, rather than intelligence, should determine how we treat animals.

Kimberlé Crenshaw

coined the term "intersectionality" and highlighted how race, gender, and other factors intersect in social justice issues. She is known for her 1989 law review article, Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex. 

Moral Importance of Emotions

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

Responsibility to Care

This approach emphasizes the responsibility to care for those who are dependent on us, such as children, elderly family members, or vulnerable individuals. 

Moral Consideration for Animals

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