3. Human Dignity, Cultural Norms, and the Good for All: Toward a Dialogical Method in Intercultural Theological Ethics

In an increasingly pluralistic world, Sigrid Müller advocates for an intercultural theological ethics grounded in the universal dignity of all human beings and aimed at the common good. This ethical approach operates not a fixed theory but as a dialogical process that seeks to jointly address moral challenges that transcend cultural boundaries. Müller highlights the tension between universal principles and cultural particularities, arguing that concepts such as human dignity and moral goodness must be continually reinterpreted through intercultural dialogue, without abandoning their unifying potential. Worldviews, anthropological assumptions, and cultural contexts play a central role in shaping ethical reflection. Intercultural theological ethics must critically examine power structures and amplify marginalized voices, and they should be marked by radical openness and a commitment to community in diversity. As a methodological approach, it is conceived as a continuous, cross-cultural negotiation that enables mutual transformation. The goal is an ethical practice that respects local contexts while simultaneously seeking shared moral ground, contributing to a just and dignified coexistence on a global scale. This form of ethics affirms that meaningful moral engagement is a concrete process undertaken with others, not an abstract exercise.