Unit 5: Social and Global Ethics
Moral responsibilities toward the community and the global world.
Table of Contents
1. The Concept of Social Justice
Social justice is about the fair distribution of benefits and burdens in society. The most influential theory comes from John Rawls.
Rawls' Principles of Justice:
- The Liberty Principle: Everyone should have the maximum amount of freedom possible without infringing on others' freedom.
- The Difference Principle: Social and economic inequalities are only permitted if they benefit the least advantaged members of society.
2. Human Rights
Human rights are moral entitlements that every person has simply by virtue of being human. They are Universal, Inalienable, and Indivisible.
Universalism vs. Cultural Relativism: A major debate in global ethics. Universalism argues that rights are the same for everyone, everywhere. Cultural Relativists argue that rights should be determined by the culture and traditions of a specific society.
3. Just War Theory
Can war ever be morally justified? Just War Theory provides a set of criteria to determine if a war is ethical.
| Category | Criteria (Conditions) |
|---|---|
| Jus ad Bellum (Justice of going to war) | Just Cause, Legitimate Authority, Right Intention, Last Resort. |
| Jus in Bello (Justice in conduct of war) | Proportionality (harm must not outweigh good) and Discrimination (targeting only combatants). |