Mary Midgley questions the idea of moral relativism, which holds that moral judgments should be limited to cultural norms, in her essay "Trying Out One's New Sword." Using the example of a samurai testing a new sword on an innocent passerby, she critiques the idea that we cannot judge other cultures practices because we do not fully understand them. Moral isolationism, the idea that we should not judge other people’s cultures, seems to be flawed, according to Midgley, because it obstructs the development of deep moral insight. She asserts that moral judgements remain essential and possible despite cultural variations, leading to a more cohesive moral framework. In her interpretation, Midgley offers a couple of counterarguments to the idea of moral isolationism. One, in my opinion, is that moral isolationism requires us to acknowledge that other cultures cannot condemn our actions, which would result in an ethically missing conclusion. She contends that because it precluded any kind of moral growth or development, this position is unworkable and useless. We lose out on the chance to comprehend and possibly incorporate important moral truths from various cultures when we morally isolate ourselves. In addition, Midgley emphasizes that moral judgements are frequently required to promote respect and understanding amongst people, and that sometimes it …show more content…
If we cannot make any moral judgements about other cultures, then the idea of universal moral principles becomes meaningless. She argues that although it is crucial to approach people from diverse cultures with humility and an open mind, this does not mean that moral judgements cannot be made. Rather, she supports a rich strategy that honors cultural differences while continuing to have moral conversations. This, she believes, allows for a richer and more comprehensive understanding of morality that transcends cultural