Ethical Orientation

Ethical orientation starts from the everyday difference of moral orientations . It takes seriously this difference by not supposing moral reciprocity. By one-sidedly forgoing this moral reciprocity, ethical orientation opens up to a morality for dealing with different morals. Some daily examples for virtues of ethical orientation may be open-mindedness, benevolence, tact, cautiousness, politeness, nobility, striving for tolerance, dignity, peace, justice among people who follow different moral standards, and ethical sovereignty (chap. 15.1–15.3).

Ethically sovereign are those individuals who can impartially, resolutely, and silently follow their own moral standards, mastering difficult situations involving others who follow different moral standards. The morality of dealing with different morals does not cause them distress but comes natural to them. It is these kinds of individuals where morality loses its coercive element; since they are rare, we are pleased that they exist (chap. 15.4). The globalization of human communication needs ethical orientation (chap. 16.1).

8, 32, 40-42, 133-134, 175, 186, 203, 206, 212, 221, 225, 235-246, 250, 263, 282-283

 

Glossary

Reinhard Mueller