Protecting individual identity and diversity in a united world: a new basis in fundamental ethical theory

Paper


House, Ron. 2005. "Protecting individual identity and diversity in a united world: a new basis in fundamental ethical theory." Moreva, Liubava (ed.) UNESCO'S 8th International Conference on Philosophy and Culture: Unity and Diversity in Religion and Culture. Seattle, United States 27 - 30 Jan 2005 St. Petersburg.
Paper/Presentation Title

Protecting individual identity and diversity in a united world: a new basis in fundamental ethical theory

Presentation TypePaper
Authors
AuthorHouse, Ron
EditorsMoreva, Liubava
Journal or Proceedings TitleUnity and Diversity in Religion and Culture: Exploring the Psychological and Philosophical Issues Underlying Global Conflict
Year2005
Place of PublicationSt. Petersburg
ISBN5886070303
Web Address (URL) of Paperhttp://www.networkforpeace.org/
Conference/EventUNESCO'S 8th International Conference on Philosophy and Culture: Unity and Diversity in Religion and Culture
Event Details
UNESCO'S 8th International Conference on Philosophy and Culture: Unity and Diversity in Religion and Culture
Event Date
27 to end of 30 Jan 2005
Event Location
Seattle, United States
Abstract

The issues of safeguarding individual identity and promoting a flourishing, unified world
community are profoundly interlinked, with one critical nexus lying in the question of how
humans should act towards each other, how they can possibly trust others different from
themselves. This is a fundamental moral question. This paper proposes a new moral
framework that addresses these issues. The proposed principle focuses on intentional choice
in accordance with stated objective criteria of good and evil. The criteria themselves are
universal: the good aims to benefit all without exception, whilst the evil aims to harm even a
single innocent. As a principle of willed action, there is no inconsistency with the fact that
the imperfect world may prevent achievement of the goal of the good choice, and may bring
about the circumstance one is trying to avoid in rejecting the evil choice. But these criteria
provide concrete guidance: in personal living, in relating within and amongst groups, and in
designing laws and social systems. Also, in a world that practised such an ethic, personal
identity, security, and belonging are enhanced for each individual by their trust in the
universal care practised by others. This paper explores how the goodness principle works in
practice to fulfil this promise.

Keywordsuniversal ethics, planetary ethics, ethics, philosophy, social systems, Principle of Goodness, affirmations of humanism, globalisation, united world, personal ethics, individual identity, diversity
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020500306. Ethical theory
500104. Human rights and justice issues (excl. law)
441005. Social theory
Public Notes

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Byline AffiliationsDepartment of Mathematics and Computing
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