The intercultural ethics agenda from the point of view of a moral objectivist
| Pages | 101-115 |
| Published date | 27 June 2008 |
| Date | 27 June 2008 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/14779960810888338 |
| Author | Kenneth Einar Himma |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management |
The intercultural ethics agenda
from the point of view of a moral
objectivist
Kenneth Einar Himma
Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, Washington, USA
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to attempt to resolve some unclarity about the nature and
character of intercultural information ethics (IIE).
Design/methodology/approach – By survey of some of the relevant literature, the paper identifies
and explains the distinctive projects of IIE. In addition, to facilitate the achievement of these projects, the
paper attempts to identify the most fruitful metaphysical and meta-ethical assumptions about truth and
moral truth. In particular, to identify and determine which of objectivist theories of truth and morality or
intersubjectivist theories of truth and morality provides a better theoretical foundation for IIE.
Findings – Two projects are identified: a descriptive project and a normative project. It is argued that
moral objectivism provides a better foundation for the normative (project than moral intersubjectivism
(or, as it is sometimes called, normative cultural relativism) in the sense that objectivism provides a
more solid ground for the principle grounding the normative project – namely that agreement among
cultures on principles of information ethics is good or desirable. In other respects, it is concluded that
moral objectivism and moral intersubjectivism do equally well in grounding the normative project.
Originality/value – The paper is the first to compare the two methodological approaches and points
in the direction of the most fruitful approach to take in pursuing IIE.
Keywords Culture, Ethics,Information management
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
One of the most important projects to have emerged from the growingly influential
information ethics community is something called “intercultural information ethics”
(IIE). IIE involves approaching applied ethical problems involving information and ICTs
from a multidisciplinary perspective concerned with identifying the different ethic al
commitments in cultural practices and principles and promoting multicultural
agreement on the relevant ethical principles. In recent years, no theorists have been
more important in contributing to a growing awareness of the need to think about the
different ways in which cultures organize their ethical lives under different assumptions
and theoretical structures and the need to promote cross-cultural agreement on
information ethical principles. Notable theorists who have made important substantial
contributions to the project of intercultural ethics include Capurro (2008), Ess and
Hongladarom (2007), Hongladarom (2007), Buchanan and Ess (2008), and Olinger et al.
(2007), among others. These theorists deserve all the recognition they have received in
virtue of these important efforts.
Nevertheless, it is not always clear exactly what it is that IIE theorists are doing as a
general matter. While ethics is, strictly speaking, a branch of philosophy, many, but not
all IIE theorists, are doing something other than philosophy. Some, for example
are attempting to identify those ethical principles on which particular cultures agree
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/1477-996X.htm
Intercultural
ethics agenda
101
Journal of Information,
Communication & Ethics in Society
Vol. 6 No. 2, 2008
pp. 101-115
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
1477-996X
DOI 10.1108/14779960810888338
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