As Attached

Evaluation of Ethical Situations

(Author’s name)

(Institutional Affiliation)

Introduction

Various human civilizations have established codes of conduct and practices that are based on their principles and regulations. These codes are set in standards that are attainable by all members of the given tribe, state or even nation. Therefore all ethical codes posted in both tridimensionality and intra-physicality of human life have a restriction to either specific groups, civilizations, and culture, or the conditions of consciousness which are manifested in the physical life and body. Similarly, various societies practice polygamy as part of their custom.

Discussion

Polygamy is illegal in many places; however, the question is whether or not it is morally acceptable. It may not suit everyone's morality. However, that should be conditional depending on one's personal religious beliefs and not necessarily the law. The theory of ethical relativism explains morality as being about the norms of an individual’s culture (Laudan, 2006). Meaning that whether an action is right or wrong is dependent on the moral standards of a given society in which it is practiced. An action may be morally right in one society and at the same time morally wrong in another society. For ethical relativism, there are no moral standards that can universally apply to all persons at the same time (Lyons, 2012).

The theory of ethical relativism is however disputed by some ethicists with the claim that in as much as society’s moral practices may differ; the fundamental moral principles that are underlying such practices do not change. Therefore, communities may differ in their ways of applying basic moral principles but concur on the principles. It can also be argued that some morals may be culturally relative as opposed to others. Practices such as polygamy may depend on local cultures of society while others may be controlled by the universal moral standards.

In the early days, polygamy was allowed in wider parts of the world. It was used to serve as an active principle for prestige, security and family policy. The major reason why some societies practiced polygamy was that many wives were a symbol of wealth, influence and power especially in African countries (Dowd, 2003). However, there has been a steady move away from the practice. From an obvious approach, it can be argued today that polygamy is a kind of cheating. From this method, I think it inherits immoral act of immorality.

I think that the societies that practice polygamy are not doing something which is morally wrong. From my view, first in polygamy, there is no sense of deception since all the spouses know about each other. Also, the spouses do not stray outside the relationship because they are all in it. Because of that, I think there will be no violation of the rights in a relationship or breach of relationship agreement. Besides, it would not be considered adulterous since no one of them is engaging in sex with someone that they have not married. Therefore, for me, polygamy doesn't seem to be a kind of cheating.

In general, most people can argue that polygamy is not right since an individual is only entitled to having a single spouse at any given time. Concluding that polygamy is moral because one individual only has a right to have one wife may not be correct. I think that for the societies that still maintain their traditional norms and customs, the practice is not wrong.

References

Dowd, N. E. (2003). Law, Culture, and Family: The Transformative Power of Culture and the Limits of Law.

Laudan, L. (2006). Beyond positivism and relativism: Theory, method, and evidence.

Lyons, D. (2012). Ethical relativism and the problem of incoherence. Available at SSRN 2117178.