In today’s open, multicultural societies, the need to choose is ever-present, whether the issue is banal (Which toothpaste should I buy?) or essential (Where do I find sources of purpose or meaning in my life?). But, with no shared cultural norms on which to base decisions regarding, say, how to achieve wellbeing or to direct one’s life, how can one distinguish between good and bad choices?
我们在与他人的关系中发展我们的身份。文化假设、思想和志向的纳入构成了我们对世界的感知，为我们提供心理和道德方向。在当今开放的多文化社会中，选择需要永远存在，不管是平淡无奇的问题（应该买哪个牌子的牙膏？）还是至关重要的问题（从哪里去寻找生命的目标和意义？）。但是，没有共同的文化规范作为与（比如）如何实现福祉或如何引导生活等问题有关的决定的基础，我们如何区分好选择与坏选择？什么构成了对与错，严肃与伪善？