Question- What can be done when parties are faced with moral differences that seem to be intolerable?

Answer -

Changing the Stories

In some cases, each party can heighten its understanding of the other’s world-view through new forms of communication. Some suggest that moral conflict be viewed as a particular form of communication and pattern of interaction. At various points in a moral conflict, people have the ability to handle their conflict differently. One way in which people can change the pattern of conflict is by telling different stories about what they are doing. By using narratives and story-telling to communicate they can enrich the views that each side has about the other, often revealing commonalities in the midst of all the differences.

Reframing

Third parties can sometime help the disputants to redefine or reframe their conflict, focusing more on attainable interests and less on non-negotiable positions or negative stereotypes. They can also help parties to seek mutually beneficial outcomes rather than competitive, win-lose outcomes. Even if the moral differences cannot be eliminated, sometimes the parties share interests or needs. All sides, for example, have a need for security, and increasing the feeling of security of one side does not diminish the security of the other side, as is commonly believed. Rather the opposite is generally true: the more secure one side feels, the less it feels a need to attack the other side; hence the more secure the other example, if speaking truth is virtue one adopts in her life and consider it good for herself and the society then, ethically it can only be negotiated if it serves a higher good say saving an innocent life.

But there are some values which have no potential to cause any conflict among different degree of goodness. Four such values which I will choose are following :

(1) Humility : it is the quality of one individual to be humble in her conduct with others. As one steps up the ladder of success in her personal and professional life it is even more necessary to carry humility in her personality. Without this value one may become self-centered and cause emotional harm to others.

(2) Nonviolence : we appreciate the virtues of democracy and free debate. This is important to remember that any conflict, in a society which cherishes democratic values, should be resolved through discussion, debates and other democratic means like peaceful protest etc. Nonviolence, as Gandhi said it to be weapon of strong, should be followed for resolutions of conflicting issues.

(3) Compassion : it is important to have the ability to feel the pain of others and empathise with their emotions. Without compassion one will never be able to develop trust for herself among her peers. It also makes us sensitive towards the problems of others and the related ability to empathise with them makes one able to address their problems efficiently.

(4) Integrity : it is the value of being truthful and honest with oneself and others. Without this, it is not possible to do one’s duty truthfully. It also helps in judgement of the self. Every individual with success in her personal and professional career possessed this value.

...Prev | Next...