The Possibility Of Constructing Universal Ethics

The dissertation intends to seek the possible way of constructing the universal ethics from the perspective of moral universalism. Chapter One points out there exists moral universalism. The plurality of moral practices cannot negate the existence of object moral values; moral relativism itself has a theoretical paradox and moral relativists are virtually moral absolutivists despite their relativist belief. Chapter Two distinguishes three kinds of moral universalism: Moral particularism holds that there is no universal moral truth and we need only moral judgments to instruct ethical life, but it cannot tell us how to live together. Moral absolutism holds there exists universal moral truth and its moral universalism is the universalism itself based on its ontological argumentation, so it led to the contradiction of various moral truth and moral disorder both in moral theory and in moral life. Universal ethics goes beyond any concrete and relative moral tradition but has no intention of seeking the position of global ideology based on practical reasoning in life world. Chapter Three emphasizes on the possible construction of universal ethics. The start-point is "golden rule", resources are various moral and cultural traditions, the way of moral argumentation is practical reasoning, forming system is dialogue and the final aim is moral consensus .