Summary Of Graded Absolutism

In ethics, there are several ethical systems one may follow. The three approaches to be reviewed will be unqualified absolutism, situational absolutism and graded absolutism. These approaches will be defined and examples will be given of each of these. Concluding with an over view of which approach I feel that aligns with the way I make decisions in ethical matters.
Unqualified absolutism can be described by Augustine as an absolutism with no moral conflict. There are no moral conflicts because there are no exceptions because it is absolute. Sin is avoidable because moral solutions are absolute, so there is no conflict between right or wrong. Going against this moral absolute is wrong regardless of the situation. He states that even doing a

His thought was around love and that there was an order of who or what we are to love. He did believe that moral conflicts can occur and when they do we are to follow the higher moral law. Others have given their input into this such as Charles Hodge holds that truth is absolute but it can be alright to be falsified. Hodges insight gave the elements of graded absolutism known today. Within graded absolutism it says that all moral laws are not the same. Within the Bible scripture states moral laws that are higher than others. Matthew 22:34-40 from the Bible tells of Jesus stating that the first is loving God and then loving our neighbor (Geisler, 2010, p. 97-101). When confronted with situations in this thinking we are to follow the higher of the law and when we do our sins will be forgiven. Per Geisler (2010), “God does not hold the individual responsible for personally unavoidable moral conflicts, providing that one keeps the higher law”

In a case study provided by the article Any absolutes? Absolutely! (2009), it tells of a woman and how she lied to save some Jewish people from a Nazi camp. In looking at this study is lying justified? If we look at what unqualified absolutism says it says that moral laws should never be broken therefore, we must not lie even if it means someone will die. Since this is an absolute moral law and truth is absolute there would be no exceptions to lie. In looking at this by conflicting absolutism it would say lying is forgivable because there are conflicting laws. This approach says we live in a world with conflicting laws and that this conflict is unavoidable. So, if lying would save lives of the Jewish people then we are breaking a lesser law. We would then ask for forgiveness for breaking Gods absolute law about no lying. Even though God has absolute laws he will not change because of conflicting problems. In graded absolutism, it would day lying is right sometimes if we are following the higher law. Because this approach says there are higher and lower moral laws lying to save lives would be justified. This approach holds that God would not judge us because of something we can’t avoid we would be exempted for following the higher law