"Isn't that rude in your country?"
Simon asked, seeing how chopsticks were being used.
Haru was confused. "What is?"
"Sticking chopsticks into food. It's normal in my country, but apparently different here."
Noa explained. "In Japan, it's the manner for offering food at a Buddhist altar, so it's avoided."
"Manners differ by culture."
Simon became interested. "So does ethics also differ by culture?"
"Aren't ethics and manners different?" Haru asked.
"The boundary is vague," Noa thought. "Both deal with 'should.'"
Simon gave an example. "In some cultures, respecting elders is an absolute duty."
"But in other cultures, individual autonomy takes priority."
Haru was confused. "So you can't decide what's right?"
"From the position of ethical relativism, yes," Noa said.
"Relativism?"
"The idea that ethical truths differ by culture and individual."
Simon supplemented. "Anthropologists often take this position."
"To understand different cultures, you need to respect that culture's values."
Haru resisted. "But some things are clearly bad, right?"
"For example?"
"Killing people."
Noa said cautiously. "But it's sometimes permitted in war."
"Some countries have the death penalty."
Simon said seriously. "The definition of murder itself is cultural."
Haru was confused. "So there's really no universal ethics?"
"From the position of ethical universalism, there is," Noa answered.
"Kant sought universal moral laws."
"The categorical imperative. 'Act only according to that maxim whereby you can, at the same time, will that it should become a universal law.'"
Haru thought. "That's difficult."
Simon rephrased. "Simply put, act in ways that would be okay if everyone did it."
"I see."
Noa offered another perspective. "The concept of human rights is an example of universalism."
"Rights that all humans have from birth."
Simon said challengingly. "But there's criticism that human rights are also a Western concept."
"Imposing it on non-Western societies is cultural imperialism."
Haru was troubled. "Which is right?"
"Both have a point," Noa acknowledged. "That's why the debate continues."
Simon organized. "Probably, complete relativism and complete universalism are both too extreme."
"A middle position?"
"Yes. Acknowledging some universality while respecting cultural diversity."
Noa gave an example. "Torture is universally considered bad. But etiquette differs culturally."
"Different levels."
Haru began to understand. "Basic ethics are universal, but detailed norms are cultural?"
"That's one way of thinking," Simon said.
"The UN Declaration of Human Rights is that attempt."
Noa said cautiously. "But judging what's basic is also difficult."
"Discussion and dialogue are needed."
Simon nodded deeply. "Ethics is tested where different cultures meet."
"Not absolutizing your own values, nor uncritically accepting others' values."
Haru asked. "How do you strike that balance?"
"Through dialogue," Noa answered. "Asking each other for reasons, explaining."
"Why is that important, why do you think that's right."
Simon concluded. "Ethics might be an endeavor aiming for universality."
"Can't fully reach it, but approach through dialogue."
Haru nodded. "There's no easy answer."
"But continuing to ask has meaning."
The three quietly continued their meal. Cultural differences give opportunities to think deeply about ethics.