Can behavior be judged apart from its cultural context? No, says Professor Kelly, but that does not foreclose moral judgments; in fact, to withhold judgment is to avoid responsibility. But if we focus only on the external act, we fail to see how it relates to the group and to the ethical system of the group — its assumptions and worldview. Conscious ethical reflection can not only help us in our cross-cultural communication, but in this process it can heighten and sharpen our moral sensitivities. Father Kelly also suggests some methodological tools to assist us in this reflection.
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