Download Ethical Relativism is Opposed to Absolutism.

Is Morality Relative or are There Universal Standards?
Two Possible Answers
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A b s o l u ti s m
Ethical Relativism
Absolutism
The notion that there is only one correct answer to every moral
problem.
 A completely absolutist ethical theory consists of absolute
principles that provide an answer for every possible situation in
life, regardless of culture.
 Absolutism is opposed to Ethical Relativism.
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Ethical Relativism
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Ethical Relativism holds that there are no universally
valid moral principles, but rather all moral principles are
valid relative to culture or individual choice.
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So it holds that there are moral principles, but that
these standards are relative to the culture or individual
Ethical Relativism is Opposed to Absolutism.
There are Two Types of Relativism
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Cultural Relativism
 Conventionalism
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Subjectivism (Individual Relativism)
Cultural Relativism
Individual acts are right or wrong depending on the nature of the
society in which the occur.
 Morality does not exist in a vacuum.
 Morality must be seen in the context that depends on the wants,
goals, beliefs, history, and environment of the society.
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One Type of Cultural Relativism is Conventionalism
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This view states that there are no objective moral principles, but
that all valid moral principles are justified by virtue of their cultural
ac c e p t a n c e .
This view recognizes the social nature of morality
 In this view, what is right or wrong in a society can change
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Subjectivism
Also known as Subjective Ethical Relativism
Morality depends not on society, but rather on the individual.
 Morality is like taste or aesthetic judgment.
 Morality is in the eye of the beholder.
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So is it all relative?
Critique of Absolutism
People think the moral perspective of their culture is
correct
 The “abnormals” of one society are the norms of another
society.
 Cultural attitudes towards trances, polygamy, and
homosexuality
 Cultural diversity forces us to accept moral relativism
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Isn’t morality simply a term used to denote socially
approved habits within a culture?
Critique of Relativism/Subjectivism
Subjectivism leads to absurdities
 Aren’t we confusing tolerance with what is morally good?
 Cultural relativism has disturbing consequences
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For Example, how does Uganda treat women and
children?
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An unjust social system:
 Unequal division of labor
 Lack of access to education
 AIDS
 Polygamy
We do, in fact, believe in absolute moral
standards/values
The Deep Beauty of the Golden Rule
The Golden Rule is a universal procedural rule of ethics.
 We can test our values with the Golden Rule.
 The Golden Rule, if followed, would produce social
harmony.
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I Have a Dream, Martin Luther King
There are many universal moral principles appealed to in
this famous speech.
 King appeals to the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit
of happiness, as well as justice.
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The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
www.un.org/Overview/rights.html