Ethical Theory and Moral Practice

Ethical Theory and Moral Practice developed as a cohesive field in the late twentieth century, with the establishment of the Ethical Theory and Moral Practice Journal, in 1998. The theory therefore represents a culmination of scholarly thought and analysis in the fields of philosophy, sociology, and psychology. As a cross-disciplinary theory, Ethical Theory and Moral Practice reveals the increasing hybridization of fields that relate to normative ethics.

Because Ethical Theory and Moral Practice is a relatively new field of scholastic inquiry, the field is currently "undergoing change," ("Ethical Theory and Moral Practice: How do they relate?" 2008). Changes reflect shifting social, economic, and political realities. Without falling pray to the traps of ethical relativism, Ethical Theory and Moral Practice remains heterogeneous and diverse.

The roots of the theory are difficult to trace because of the "disciplinary cross-pollination" that has occurred ("Ethical Theory and Moral Practice: How do they relate?" 2008). Major topics of study within the field highlight the core social and political forces that caused the development of the theory. Those topics include the economic and social impact of globalization; bioethics; transnational non-governmental institutions; international terrorism; and feminism. The current editors of the Ethical Theory and Moral Practice Journal are A.W. Musschenga and F.R. Heeger. However, there are no matriarchs or patriarchs of the field. Contributions to Ethical Theory and Moral Practice may have been leaders in their respectively chosen fields. For example, Karl Marx can be considered to be a major influence on an Ethical Theory and Moral Practice framework even though the theory was not developed or concretized until the late twentieth century.

Ethical Theory and Moral Practice owes its origins in part to Enlightenment philosophy including Locke and Hobbes. However, modern and postmodern theory is more influential on the concepts addressed most readily by Ethical Theory and Moral Practice, which is grounded in application. Therefore, Ethical Theory and Moral Practice will have been influenced by trends in economic development; the ethics of nation-building; and same-sex marriage. The increasing secularization of Western states and the decreasing significance of the nation-state are key points that can be addressed in the context of Ethical Theory and Moral Practice. At the same time, specific issues such as euthanasia, animal rights, and abortion can be analyzed in terms of global needs and global norms.