Final answer:
Ethical values can indeed be influenced and changed by reason, as different philosophical theories suggest that reason can help in identifying and justifying these values.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of whether ethical values of right and wrong can be influenced by reason and changed is indeed a complex one. Ethical theories and moral philosophy explore the ways in which reason can affect our understanding of what is ethical. Since the time of Socrates and through the Enlightenment, many philosophers have argued that through the use of reason, certain universal ethical principles can be discovered, providing a basis for moral rule making that transcends cultural and societal differences.
Moral philosophers such as Plato believed in the existence of objective moral principles that could be found through reason. Meanwhile, moral realists argue that there are objective moral facts, whereas moral skeptics believe that moral values are subjective and not factual. Evolutionary ethics suggests that our moral nature has developed partly through advancing reasoning abilities. In contrast, pluralism and other theories propose that there might be multiple intrinsic values instead of a single moral truth.
Metaethics discusses the foundation of moral reasoning, with realism and anti-realism debating whether ethical values are based on objective reality or subjective beliefs. Ethical naturalism posits that good actions fulfill human nature, suggesting an objective basis for morality linked to natural facts. Regardless of the approach, it's clear that reason plays a significant role in shaping and altering ethical values, allowing them to evolve with societal changes and deeper philosophical understanding.