SWP 132 Study Guide - Final Guide: Social Inequality, Jane Addams, Settlement Movement
6 Sep 2013
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Healy - universalism v. cultural relativism in sw ethics. Globalization makes this debate increasingly relevant to sw re: global human rights. Universalism and relativism are contested in hr, especially the rights of oppressed groups. The universalist/deontologist school of ethics stresses the overriding importance of fixed moral rules, arguing that an action is inherently right or wrong and therefore ethical rules are universal. Universalist view that all members of the family share the same inalienable rights. The teleological/relativist school holds that ethical principles are contingent on context, ethical decisions, ethical decisions vary on the basis of the context in which they are made. Cultural relativist argue that culture is the sole source of validity of moral rights and rules, there are no common standards just culturally specific ones. Issues arise in social work especially in situations regarding equality claims for women, children, ethnic, religious and sexual minorities or involving tension over individualism over communalism.
