The skillful, the loving, and the right: An analysis of ethical theories and an application to the treaty rights debate in Wisconsin

Abstract

The field of intercultural communication has a general theory of ethics and also particular ethical theories that concern good communication, empathy, and the structure of society. This paper explores the foundations for these particular ethical theories from the fields of communication, moral development and education, and sociology. Also, narration is discussed as one postmodern ethical theory that addresses the concerns of each particular theory and of the general theory. Each model is applied to the treaty rights debate in Wisconsin to show its heuristic value.

Key Terms:

• Empathy
• ethics of care
• functionalist
• narrative paradigm
• mechanistic perspective
• postmodern ethics
• psychological perspective
• social ethics
• symbolic interactionism
• systems perspective
• third‐culture building