1. Intercultural Communication
Chapter 12:
Can Judgments of Right and Wrong Be Made When Dealing with Other Cultures?

2. Ethics refers to the means or moral standards by which actions may be judged good or bad, right or wrong. They are the rules of conduct that govern our lives.

3. Six Golden Approaches to Ethics:
Golden Purse (power makes right)
Golden Mean (moderation is a virtue)
Golden Public (the headline test)
Golden Law (universal means over ends)
Golden Consequence (ends over means)
Golden Rule (treat others as would want to be treated)

4. The Relationship between Ethics and Communication?
One of constraint?
One of empowerment?
One of both constraint and empowerment?

5. Universalism: Seeing ethics as entirely separate from culture
Ethics and Culture
Universalism: Seeing ethics as entirely separate from culture
What challenges does this perspective create?

6. Ethics and Culture
Relativism: Seeing ethics as entirely bound to the beliefs of a particular culture
What challenges does this perspective create?

7. Ethics and Culture
Treating universalism and relativism as a dialectical tension that fits on a continuum and encourages conversation, rather than as isolated concepts that involve exclusive categories and have no room for conversation, produces key principles for intercultural relations.

8. Three Ethical Principles for Consideration:
Effort to understand
Peaceful disagreement
Loving relationships

9. Effort to Understand: Teachable attitude Accepting mutual legitimacy
Engaging in dialogue
Considering the context

10. Peaceful Disagreement:
Nonviolence (not as a behavior, but as an attitude)
Truth and openness (avoiding secrecy and deception)

11. Loving Relations:
A willingness to be inconvenienced for the benefit of others
A recognition of the importance of relationships and connection for everyone

12. Intercultural marriage as an exemplar of key ideas:
Good motives
Common goals
Sensitivity to the other’s needs
Flexibility
Spirit of adventure
Positive self-image
Sense of humor
Commitment to the relationship
Willingness to communicate