Reading Summary - Book Report/Review Example

Reading Summary Cultural Relativism The article on cultural relativism defines how others should understand individual’s beliefs in relation to culture. In the article, James Rachel explains the principle of cultural relativism. Rachel regards cultural relativism as a theory about the nature of morality. Therefore, cultural relativism is a noble idea because it enhances respect for an individual’s culture (1986).Rachel perceives cultural relativism as a notion about the nature of morality, viewpoint that he argues to support.

The argument, however, is invalid and fallacious. For instance, Rachel acknowledges that various cultures have different moral codes. There is, therefore, no morality and that a right and wrong only matters in an opinion that varies across cultures. For instance, homosexuality is an immoral act, and an individual may feel uncomfortable in the company gay people based on the perception that they are alien. However, certain cultures approve of homosexuality and that the gay people are similar to their straight counterparts.

The writer’s position on cultural relativism is justifiable. If everyone upholds the principles and worldviews on cultural relativism, then none will perceive other people as morally wrong. Secondly, we will not criticize the moral codes of other societies and the codes of our culture. Third, we will be able to determine whether our actions are right or wrong by consulting the moral standard of our societies.Rachel presumes that cultural relativism is a concept in social sciences that guides and directs individuals to lay aside culture, adopt broad perspectives of other worldviews, and accept other people’s culture.

Therefore, cultural relativism is significant in every society because it enhances interactions and other social aspects of individuals’ lives.Social Contracts ApproachThe article on the social contract approach reviews the book, “Ties That Bend” by Dunfee and Donaldson (1999). It enhances business ethics by revealing understandings or collaborations that unite industries, companies, and economic ecosystem into one moral ecosystem. The Interactive social contracts theory recognizes the moral authority of key transactional truths and illegitimately deeming any social contracts existing outside the boundaries.

The social contracts approach article presents Dunfee and Donaldson’s argument on the social efficiency of hypernorm and its application to bribery. It raises questions on how to hardwire human moral behaviors. They state that the social contract approach takes moral free space seriously. For instance, Donaldson and Dunfee insist that morality can be either situational or conditional so that two conflicting conceptions of myths can sometimes both be valid.Integral social contract theory (ICT) highlights the ethical relevance of existing norms in industries, economic corporations, and corporations.

The primary aim is to reach beyond wide span of ethics to allow a more detailed normative assessment of particular ethical problems in a business. Therefore, the writers’ position is acceptable. Rational contractors are based on core assumptions or presuppositions in framing their search for a common economic ethics. The first assumption, the ethical behavior’s nature in economic systems and communities improves economic interaction’s quality and efficiency. Second, all humans are constrained by bounded moral rationality.

Finally, all other things being the same, economic activity that is consistent with the cultural and religious attitudes of economic actors are preferable to economic activity that is not. Social contract approach is important as it enhances business ethics and understanding collaborations that unite industries, companies, and economic ecosystems.ReferencesDonaldson, T., & Dunfee, T. W. (1999). Ties that bind: A social contracts approach to business ethics. Harvard Business Press. Rachels, J. (1986). The challenge of cultural relativism.

Birmingham, University of Alabama.