INDIVIDUAL RELATIVISM

Let's discuss individual ethical relativism: (the theory that right and wrong can be different for each individual, so ethical judgements are only expressions of individual feelings or opinions), how individual tribal members apply this theory and its impact on the tribe.

Years ago, when I was a third grade teacher, I had sent the students out for recess one day. Shortly thereafter, the playground monitor returned with a student of mine. He was beating up another student, she informed me. I asked the student why he was beating up the other student. He replied, "Because he hit me back."
Now it is easy to understand why a third grader’s view of what is right and wrong may not be exactly in line with a grown-up’s view of right and wrong. However, it is not so easy to understand when an adult’s view of right and wrong is so far off base. Remember the previous example about the board member who had ignored personnel policies when it suited him? Click here to return to that example if you need to refresh your memory.
Here is an example of a person who engaged in individual relativism. There was a personnel policy stating that you could not be employed by an organization if you were a member of its governing board, but he chose to ignore it. The immediate result was that someone else then ignored the same policy for another organization. The long-term result was the employees began ignoring other personnel policies as well, such as bringing concerns to your supervisor to be resolved. Instead, they would go directly to a board member or the tribal council.