Self-Contained Ethics II: Ethical Reconstruction in Modern Japan and the West

“This paper reconstructs the structure of ethical judgment in modern society as a reciprocal system between individual and society. Traditional ethical theories—utilitarianism and deontology—have defined morality in terms of either consequences or principles. However, within today’s complex institutional and cultural networks, neither framework alone can adequately guide human action. This study redefines ethics as a dynamic circulation in which society safeguards the goodwill of individuals, and individuals uphold social order through ethical reasoning. By integrating utilitarian and deontological insights, the paper proposes the theory of Reciprocal Ethical Structure, clarifying the foundation of moral trust in modern Japan and Western societies.”