Music from the perspective of the New Ethics: Ethical responsibility and social impact

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between music and ethics within the framework of the “New Ethics” approach. Moving beyond traditional rule-based ethical perspectives, the study focuses on relational responsibility, social impact, and cultural sensitivity in music. The research was conducted using document analysis within a qualitative methodological framework; the existing, although still limited, literature in the field of music and ethics, together with contemporary examples from Georgian musical culture, were analyzed collectively. The results of the study show that music is not only a form of aesthetic expression, but also a dynamic field of ethical interaction shaped within specific cultural and social contexts. Important ethical issues related to cultural authenticity and representation arise primarily from the commercialization of traditional music, its transformation through modernization processes, and its presentation on stage. These results are consistent with the existing scientific literature, which emphasizes the relational and culturally contextual ethical nature of music. Ultimately, it can be argued that the new ethical approach allows music to be considered not only from a local artistic perspective and according to its content, but also in relation to its impact on society and social relations, thereby providing a comprehensive theoretical framework.