Världsreligionernas parlament och global etik. Några reflektioner utifrån mötet i Kapstaden i december 1999

Abstract

Towards a Global Ethics and The Earth Charter and the panel discussion between their main representatives at the Parliament of World Religions in Capetown, in December 1999, gave an interesting comparison between two, partly complementary, partly competing processes of global normconstruction. Both these documents take as their point of departure an understanding that the world is in a state of crisis where urgent action is needed. The aim to spread ethical principles first of all to the leaders of the world is also shared, as the ambition to disseminate the principles through leaders of the world, the United Nations and other international inter-state and non-state organs. The two initiatives are also quite different. One is basically initiated and pursued by one person, the other in a much more complicated process with participation of many different interests. One can be described as a religious, anthropocentric ethics and the other as a more ecological and cosmopolitan ethics. While Küng emphasised the document it was obvious that the process in itself was the most important in developing The Earth Charter. While one wants to reaffirm a truth that already is shared by the world religions the other is trying to create a common vision for the future.