How global is the global ethic? Delft and Chionekano as test cases

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Date

2024

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Publisher

Universty of the Western Cape

Abstract

This study examines two prominent documents on a global ethic namely, The Declaration Toward a Global Ethic (1993) and the Earth Charter (2000). The study investigates the question whether the moral principles articulated in these documents are compatible with the moral directives of community leaders in Delft, an urban township in Cape Town, and Chionekano ward a rural area in Zvishavane district, Zimbabwe. The investigation helps to ascertain whether a global ethic can adequately address the complexities of these local contexts and contribute to justice, peace, conflict resolution, and ecological sustainability. The study adopts a qualitative research method involving a comprehensive review of literature on the global ethic, with a focus on the two documents and an empirical survey. Information was gathered through semi structured interviews with 10 community leaders in Delft and another 10 in Chionekano ward, selected through snowball sampling. The study uses the concept of “moral directives,” to understand the language community leaders use to determine what is right or wrong. Given the diversity of ethical theories and frameworks, a mapping of moral concepts used as a theoretical framework consists of eight ethical categories.

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Keywords

global ethic, Delft, Chionekano, social justice, virtues

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