Global Ethics and Social Justice: A Comprehensive Look
Global Ethics
At the end of the 1960s, H.M. McLuhan spoke about the idea of the global village, which is understood as human intercommunication over the world with electronic media and mass media. People, according to the global village, feel themselves like citizens of the world. To live in this global village, a global ethic is needed. Ethics is the part of philosophy that deals with good and evil.
Questions:
- How do our actions affect others?
- How can we tell the difference?
- What actions are good?
- What actions are evil?
A global ethic is needed to avoid abuses by big companies and financial institutions.
What is Ethics Used for?
- Ethics is part of the study of religion (e.g., the Commandments).
- Some theories of economics say ethics has to do with money. The philosophy of Marxism also says that a few people using money in the wrong way can hurt many other people.
- Government policy can be affected by what politicians think is ethical.
- In work, thinking about ethics can help with hard questions.
- People like doctors and nurses have to make hard choices about how to care for people.
- Discussing ethics can also be a way to stop people fighting or starting a war.
Distribution of Resources
The economic, technological, and social progress in developed countries has given us a consumer society. 15% of the world’s population consumes 60% of the goods and services produced worldwide.
Causes of Inequality
- Economic dependency
- Technological dependency
- Economic protectionism
- Political corruption
Social Justice
Inequality is not fair, and it means there is no justice. We must try to build a fair society for everybody. Dignity gives us the possibility to consider we all are equal. Social justice is an idea of justice that affirms social equality against any kind of discrimination or abuse out of social class, social status, or any other reason. This idea is discussed by modern philosophers such as John Rawls. It is a fundamental idea for the ILO for universal and lasting peace. The Vienna Declaration also affirms social justice as a subject and a purpose of education for human rights.
The International Labour Organization
The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a United Nations agency dealing with labor issues, particularly international labor standards and decent work for all. In 1969, the organization received the Nobel Peace Prize for improving peace among classes, pursuing justice for workers, and providing technical assistance to other developing nations.
Fair Trade
The economic differences between the North and the South are very alarming. One of the causes is the unfair commercial relationship. A way to solve this inequality is fair trade, which promotes ethical, ecological, and socially responsible consumption. Fair trade is a social movement that tries to help people who make things in developing countries.
Culture of Peace
The General Assembly of the United Nations says that peace is not only the absence of conflicts; it requires positive, dynamic, and participatory processes where there is dialogue and conflicts are resolved with cooperation. The General Assembly proclaimed the Declaration on a Culture of Peace on September 13, 1999. It is based on:
- Respect for life and ending of violence
- Education, dialogue, and cooperation
- Commitment to peaceful settlement of conflicts
- Full respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms
Sustainable Development
Sustainable development is a way for people to use resources without the resources running out. People need a better environment, economy, and society.