Chapter12

In the communication ethics course, we have discussed what kind of good is protected and promoted in each given case. Chapter 12 concludes what we have learned from the textbook and discussions with the analysis of different viewpoints and beliefs. Arnett, Fritz, Bell defined communication ethics literacy as “working from one’s own position, learning from that of the Other, and interpreting that material for the task of the moment in pragmatic engagement with the Other” (p.211) In essence, communication exists in the interaction between the other and you. The other could be from different background from you in terms of religion, gender, race and ethnicity. The authors emphasized the today’s postmodern moment in crisis communication and insisted the need of a contentious understanding of the good. One of the major suggested questions “‘How do we live constructively within an era of so many differing views of the good, a time of acknowledged different goods?’”(p.214) requires all learning from the textbook. Also, we need to consider which good can fit in with each issue in this era. In my case, I, as an international student, would focus on intercultural communication ethics to respect for American perspective and values.

Communication ethics would become more important topic as time goes on and unethical events happen in the world. Sadly, religious wars contain the problem of lack of understanding about others. Since I’m from Japan, which is culturally different from the United States, my viewpoint and value is sometimes different from American people. However, I believe what we should do is not holding own opinion and reject others, but being open minded and try to start seeing things from other viewpoints. Environment makes different values. For example, people from California and people from Minnesota understand the word snow in slight different ways, but it is not impossible to guess how the other group of people think and interpret the term.