ipl-logo

Chapter Summary: Two Kinds Of Ethical Relativism

495 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Critique 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

Show More
Related
1376 Words | 6 Pages

The final chapter, chapter 21, of Russ Shafer-Landau’s book, The Fundamentals of Ethics, emphasis is placed on the fact that moral objectivity is not always completely universal but does not mean the idea of moral objectivism has to be rejected. Moral objectivism states that moral standards should be universal but there are some circumstances and exceptions to this claim. Shafer-Landau presents eleven arguments in chapter 21 that some consider challenges to the universality principle of moral objectivity. Not only will moral objectivism be examined in this paper but also another philosophical view known as moral skepticism will be discussed. In addition to the arguments present by Shafter-Landau’s book this paper will include an analysis from

Read More
573 Words | 3 Pages

Developing 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.

Read More
424 Words | 2 Pages

Moral Relativism, should it be abandoned or not? This was the original question that came to my mind when starting off reading this excerpt. Mary Midgley, the author of this story, mentioned that now days we as people deny that we will ever be able to understand a culture that is not our own. That got me thinking and as I was thinking I found what she said to be relatively true. I feel as if society has shaped us as young adults to judge our culture as being the best and all other cultures as coming up second best.

Read More
978 Words | 4 Pages

Justice is a central theme in many classic literary works, reflecting societal values and moral questions of the times. This essay analyzes the representation of justice in three significant texts: "The Odyssey" by Homer, "Cry, the Beloved Country" by Alan Paton, and the ESV Bible. Each work offers a unique perspective on justice, depicting it as divine, moral, or social, and provides insights into the human condition and societal norms. By examining these texts, we can explore how justice operates within different contexts and its implications for characters and communities. "The Odyssey" by Homer is an epic poem that portrays a hero's journey home and the trials he endures.

Read More
102 Words | 1 Pages

Our 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.

Read More
709 Words | 3 Pages

This 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

Read More
1889 Words | 8 Pages

The 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.

Read More
926 Words | 4 Pages

The 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

Read More
1178 Words | 5 Pages

Philosophy 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.

Read More
445 Words | 2 Pages

Ethical 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.

Read More
1070 Words | 5 Pages

In 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.

Read More
1020 Words | 5 Pages

Every 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.

Read More
2321 Words | 10 Pages

In 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.

Read More
1347 Words | 6 Pages

Moral subjectivism is the first order normative view that everyone does what they think they should do at the moment. On examination, moral subjectivism ceases to be plausible as it is plainly a first-order view (Mackie, 648). However, in the second-order view thesis, it is quite independent under consideration. Something humorous to note is that the second-order views compete for the name “subjectivism” on the basis of moral statements and terms. Normally, what is often referred to moral subjectivism is the doctrine that, for example, “the action is right” which means that I approve the action.

Read More
2607 Words | 11 Pages

The Strength and Vulnerability of Different Moral Views Over centuries of fervent discussion in the moral world, there is still nothing like a consensus on a set of moral views. This essay attempts to outline and critically evaluate two moral views, namely ethical objectivism and cultural relativism. It is crucial to understand that both moral theories cannot be true at the same time as it results in contradictions, contributing to false beliefs. Additionally, it is essential that we discuss these issues with an open-mind so as to gain deeper insights from them. First and foremost, we will be looking at the prominent view of ethical objectivism.

Read More

More about Chapter Summary: Two Kinds Of Ethical Relativism

Related Topics

Open Document