Chapter Summary: Two Kinds Of Ethical Relativism
The chapter about ethical relativism presents another side of the way we can perceive morality. The author distinguishes between moral nihilism and ethical relativism. According to moral nihilism, moral goodness is either a fiction or meaningless and there are no moral truths in this theory. On the other hand, ethical relativists claim that mankind creates morality. This chapter focuses on the two kinds of ethical relativism: cultural relativism and ethical subjectivism. Cultural relativism claims that an act is right if it is considered right in the society in which it is preferred. For example, “X is good” = “X is approved of in my society.” If cultural relativism is to be believed then we could justify our actions by consulting the society. …show more content…
allow it.” Similarly an act is morally wrong if “I disapprove of it or my commitments forbid it.” For example, Caring is good = I like caring. “Subjectivists think that there are right answers in ethics, but that these are always relative to each person’s values. There is no superior moral code that can measure the accuracy of each person’s moral outlook.” When a person says that caring is good then that person’s value/belief says that caring is good and he likes caring. Someone else might say that caring is bad and he doesn’t like caring. But are either of them wrong? As long as they are being honest then they are both morally right. “Ethical subjectivism also illuminates the importance of being tolerant when one is engaged in ethical discourse because diverse ethical perspectives must be heard, understood, appreciated, and respected.” You don’t have to agree with that person’s every single ethical view if you strongly disagree with him/her; however, there is a responsibility to show respect toward that person for their moral standards. Just like cultural relativism, subjectivism also faces the same inconsistency. If every person is doing their job by following their values and commitments, then how do we know who is morally
Cultural Relativism Vs Female Circumcision
102 Words | 1 PagesOur moral beliefs indicate the kind of environment or culture we grew up in. Therefore, if we were born in Somalia, we would believe that it is morally right to go through female circumcision as a rite of passage. However, if we grew up in the western world, then we would not believe in female circumcision. We can therefore see the relativist 's argument of cultural relativism in this case, because if cultural relativism exists, then naturally, morality will also be relative. Additionally, to support his stance, the relativist will also argue that tolerance comes into play when it comes to cultural relativism.
Ruth Benedict A Defense Of Ethical Relativism
747 Words | 3 PagesPojman uses Ted Bundy as an example of how this idea is extremely problematic. If one were to follow subjectivism, then they morally could not tell Ted Bundy what he was doing is wrong because in his own morale code it is morally right to commit the crimes that he committed. Conventionalism is, “the view that there are no objective moral principles but that all valid moral principles are justified (or are made true) by virtue of their cultural acceptance, recognizes the social nature of morality.” (Pg. 46) Pojman explains how this is also problematic because if one were to follow this idea, then reformers such as Martin Luther King Jr and even Jesus were immoral because they did not accept the morals that were set by
Moral Relativism Mary Midgley Analysis
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James Rachel's Argument Of Morality Is Not Relative
1070 Words | 5 PagesIn this prompt the argument that Morality exists is irrelevant, contrary to our thoughts and beliefs. Everyone follows a set of moral rules. Ethical relativists disagree with this belief because, they believe that morals are distinctive from each individual culture. These relativists as described are mixing up moral and cultural distinctions, or are simply not willing to completely understanding the cultures they are standing up for. There are two different types of relativism Ethical, and Cultural, that rely upon the argument of cultural differences, which have flaws that make the argument unsound.
Ethical Issues In Cultural Relativism
926 Words | 4 PagesThe ethics of cultural relativism are different than traditional ethical theories mainly because cultural relativism dismisses morality. Cultural relativism is named so because the ethics of different cultures
Cultural Differences Argument For Moral Relativism
1178 Words | 5 PagesPhilosophy 2200C Taylor Pearl Paper #1 The Cultural Differences Argument for Moral Relativism In this paper I will be discussing the theory of the Cultural Differences Argument for Moral Relativism and also the flaws this theory holds. First I will explain the general idea of Moral Relativism, followed by two examples of cultural differences that are often cited to further explain this theory. After that I will discuss what the Cultural Differences Argument is for Moral Relativism.
Fundamentals Of Ethics By Russ Shafer-Landeau: Chapter Analysis
1376 Words | 6 PagesConclusion Moral objectivism is the idea that moral standards are capable of being applied universally around the world. There are many challenges to this theory stripping it of its validity. However, Shafer-Landau and other philosophers provide evidence to some exceptions still allowing moral objectivity to stand and be valid.
Shafer-Landau's Argument Analysis
573 Words | 3 PagesDeveloping from the reasoning of (Russ Shafer-Landau, p.p 13), it is clear that there is a difference between normative ethics and metaethics. Normative ethics are those values that develop from within a personality and are always employed whenever ethics are breached. On the other hand the metaethics is basically the diverse elements that are considered crucial for building positive ethical believes. (Shafer-Landau, p.p 29), also brings forward other moral ethical elements such as the moral error theory, the desire-satisfaction theory, ethical particularism and the doctrine of double effects. All the above elements are crucial for shaping ones ethical perspectives and inclinations leave alone resolving ethical issues within a society.
Moral Relativism In Criminal Justice
709 Words | 3 PagesThis is because of moral relativism’s take on ethical dilemmas, and the view that there are a number of disagreements among people as to the nature of morality. An act can
Arguments Against Cultural Relativism
1020 Words | 5 PagesEvery society has its own unique cultures in which people will have different ideas of moral codes. The diversity of these cultures cannot be said to be correct or incorrect. Every society has independent standards of ethic within their society and these standards are culture-bound. Cultural Relativism has a perception in which rightness or wrongness of an action depends entirely within the bounds of the culture. This theory opposes the belief in the objectivity of moral truth.
Non Relative Approach To Virtue Ethics
1889 Words | 8 PagesThe relativist’s objection Aristotle’s writings are the best prototype of virtue ethics. Contemporary virtue theories do not grasp nor represents the Aristotelian theory, because they think that it is impossible to escape the charge of relativism in virtue ethics. According to the relativist approach, ethical goodness is relative to each society depending on its traditions and practices. It is thought that virtue can only be outlined locally with reference to a single locale. Relativists reject the idea that there is a general rule, based on specific virtuous actions, that leads to the good life i.e. they reject that there is a single virtue (or norm of flourishing life) that is able to flourish the life of all human beings.
Cultural Relativism In Social Media
2321 Words | 10 PagesIn other words, “right” or “wrong” are culture specific, what is considered moral in one society may be considered immoral in another, and, since no universal standard of morality that exist, no one has the right to judge another societies custom (Ess, 2009). Cultural Relativism is closely related to ethical relativism, which views truth as variable and not absolute. What makes up right and wrong is determined solely by individual or the society (Ess, 2009). Since the truth is not object, there can be no standards which applies to all cultures.
Ethical Relativism In Schindler's List
445 Words | 2 PagesEthical relativism is the belief that actions are right or wrong depending on the norms of a society. Ethical relativists decide on a moral issue by taking into account societal norms and mob mentality, not deciding what is absolutely right or wrong. The Nazis in Schindler’s List are ethical relativists because they judge what is right or wrong according to their society and the Nazi Party. Since they were young, the Nazi’s were taught to believe that the Jews were animals, not human beings. If the young Nazi’s in training questioned this or did not agree, they were punished and seen as a traitor to Germany.
Ethical Relativism Strengths And Weaknesses Essay
2607 Words | 11 Pages“Ethical objectivism is the meta-ethical view that there is at least one objective moral standard and that some
Moral Subjectivism
1347 Words | 6 PagesThe argument from queerness puts it clear that if objective values exist, then they would be relations of a very strange sort and of which if we are aware of them there would be some special faculty of intuition or moral perception which will be totally different from how we know everything else. According to Mackie (653), although intuition has long been out of favor, it is more important to note that the objectivist view of values commits fully to the central thesis of intuitionism. Despite the fact that people have believed that moral problems can be solved or moral judgments can be made by just sitting and having an ethical intuition is simply a travesty of actual moral thinking. This being a real complex process requires some inputs of the distinctive sort which are either form of arguments or premises or both.
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