Multiculturality and Pluralist Ethics

Abstract

Given the intense current migration of diverse cultural groups to other States, in this article I defend the thesis that members of different cultures with norms and values in conflict are able to reach intercultural agreements of coexistence. I start explaining Rawls’ political conception of justice to point out that this liberal democratic stance cannot respond adequately to the current context of multiculturality. I show then the main points of J. Habermas’ universalist ethics in order to contrast it with what I call the “pluralist ethics” of J. Dewey and H. Putnam, and justify why norms, facts and values are contextual. Based on this, I conclude that it is possible to achieve plural ethical agreements that might differ from one culture to another and yet still be legitimate as minimum norms of coexistence.