UNIT 1 – East of Eden
Right & Wrong
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
#4
How do we determine right from
wrong?
5 Contrasting Viewpoints
Moral Absolutism
Moral Objectivism
Moral Relativism
Moral Subjectivism
Moral Nihilism
Socratic Seminar
(See “Prep Work” handouts.)
Do “prep work” (separate sheet).
 Talk through each example, beginning
with general reactions…
 And then move on to what each
philosophy would say.

Moral Absolutism
The belief that there are absolute
standards against which moral questions
can be judged, and that certain actions
are right or wrong. Morals are inherent.
 For example: Killing is always immoral—
even in self-defense. In this case, it may
be pardoned, but it is still morally wrong.

Moral Objectivism
There are moral principles that are moral
or immoral independent of what others
may believe, think or feel.
 But, the principle must be specifically
framed.
 Example: “It is wrong to kill innocent
people because you don’t like them.”

Moral Relativism
Each society has its own moral code.
There are no universal standards only
local principles. There is no such thing as
objective morality.
 One cannot judge the morality of other
cultures or states.
 Example: “If the society permits killing the
innocent, it is right for that society.”

Moral Subjectivism
What an individual believes is right or
wrong is so for that individual.
 No one person’s opinion about morality is
more correct than another.
 Example: “The killing of the innocent may
be right depending on the individual
situation.”

Moral Nihilism
Nothing is right or wrong.
 There are no standards of behavior.
 Example: “The killing of the innocent is
neither right or wrong.”

Apply the Theories

Read the quotation and do the activity on
the worksheet (“How do we determine
right from wrong?”)
Ted Bundy
Ted Bundy
Ted Bundy
Moral Relativist

“In any case, let me
assure you, my dear
young lady, that there is
absolutely no comparison
between the pleasure
that I might take in
eating ham and the
pleasure I anticipate in
raping and murdering
you. “
Serial Killer, Necrophiliac
REACT
1
Adolf Hitler believed that it was his moral
obligation to exterminate the Jews. He
was following his own moral code and
thought he was right, so we cannot call
him wrong.
2
It is wrong to kill innocent people because
we don’t like them.
3
Stealing from others is always wrong.
4
Morality is like table manners. Here it is
inappropriate to eat rice with your hand;
while in many parts of Asia, it is totally
appropriate. Here, we do not encourage
suicide bombings; but in other areas, it is
very heroic. What is right in one country
may be wrong in another; no society’s
view is more correct than another.
5
“The mere fact that a multitude of people in
a society hold a certain opinion, does not
make that opinion correct. What is morally
right is not a function of the views of the
majority.” (Socrates)
6
Abusing one’s wife is wrong.
7
Some things are just plain right and wrong
independent of what some may think is
right and wrong.
Socratic Seminar Wrap-Up
So, let’s revisit our big questions…
 Are humans responsible for their actions?
 What makes (or will make) humans
happy?
 Do we need universal laws? Absolute
laws? Societal laws? Personal laws?
 What examples have you can you use
from East of Eden?
HOMEWORK:

Continue tracking characters’ responsibility
throughout the novel