2. Moral Absolutism and Moral Relativism
ESSENTIAL TERMINOLOGY
Absolute
Consequentialism
Cultural relativism
Descriptive relativism
Moral absolutism
Moral objectivism
Moral relativism
Subjectivism
WHAT IS ETHICAL RELATIVISM?
x is acceptable
in the culture
What is good
is the norm
within a given
culture
Suggests
universal
tolerance
Ethical
relativism
Comes from
anthropology.
Moves from
descriptive to
normative
Suggests
morals are
just habits
Can allow
justification of
anything
THE ORIGINS OF RELATIVISM
Socrates
Plato
Aristotle
CULTURAL RELATIVISM
Cultural relativism
Different societies have
different moral codes
No objective standard can
judge one culture better
than another
Our own moral code is just
one among many
There are no universal truths
Moral codes are just right for
the society to which they
apply
We cannot judge the
conduct of other societies –
we need to be tolerant
THE REASONS FOR RELATIVISM
THE WEAKNESSES OF RELATIVISM
NORMATIVE RELATIVISM
SITUATION ETHICS
Strengths of Situation Ethics
Weaknesses of Situation Ethics
WHAT IS ETHICAL ABSOLUTISM?
Does not
consider the
situation or
the
consequences
Good is
universal –
there is no
flexibility
Deontological
– the action is
always
right/wrong
Ethical
absolutism
Everyone is
treated fairly,
there are no
minorities
e.g. Kant,
Divine
Command
theory
Can lead to a
rigid
authoritarian
society
MORAL ABSOLUTISM AND RELIGION
NORMATIVE ABSOLUTISM
Strengths of absolutism
Weaknesses of absolutism