Final answer:
An act can come to be viewed as unethical over time primarily under the relativist perspective, which suggests that moral standards evolve as societal values change. Deontology, which bases ethics on adherence to rules or duties, may also acknowledge shifts in ethical views as society reassesses these rules. Rule deontology specifically allows for changes in ethical perspectives as the interpretation of rules evolves.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding the Perception of Ethics Over Time
Through time, an act can come to be viewed as unethical under the relativist perspective. The relativist perspective argues that moral standards are not absolute but are determined by cultural norms and societal values, which can evolve over time. For instance, practices that were once considered ethically permissible, such as slavery or denying women the right to vote, have come to be widely condemned as societies' values have shifted. The relativist perspective allows us to understand that as cultures grow and social consciousness develops, the collective ethical framework can change, deeming previously accepted behaviors as unethical.
Conversely, from a deontological standpoint, an act is considered right or wrong based on adherence to rules, duties, or obligations rather than consequences. However, even within deontology, certain rules can be re-evaluated or shifted in response to changing social norms, leading to a different understanding of ethical behavior over time.
Rule deontology, a variant of deontology, might also acknowledge changes in ethical views as society reassesses the rules that dictate moral behavior. An example of this could be the change in societal views on capital punishment in many countries, where it was once widely accepted but has increasingly come to be seen as unethical.