The Strength and Vulnerability of Different Moral Views Over centuries of fervent discussion in the moral world, there is still nothing like a consensus on a set of moral views. This essay attempts to outline and critically evaluate two moral views, namely ethical objectivism and cultural relativism. It is crucial to understand that both moral theories cannot be true at the same time as it results in contradictions, contributing to false beliefs. Additionally, it is essential that we discuss these issues with an open-mind so as to gain deeper insights from them. First and foremost, we will be looking at the prominent view of ethical objectivism. “Ethical objectivism is the meta-ethical view that there is at least one objective moral standard and that some …show more content…
In general, on a popular argument for ethical relativism would be the untenability of objectivism. It is a persuasive justification for moral relativism because it is the best alternative following the failure of objectivism. The fact that moral objectivists themselves are uncertain, incongruent and unsettled on a standard moral system is the primary catalyst encouraging moral skepticism (IEP, Argument for Moral Relativism). Cultural relativism outlines that “an action is morally right, relative to a culture, just because it is right according to the moral code which is generally accepted in that culture.” Conversely, if “an action is morally wrong, relative to a culture, just because it is wrong according to the moral code which is generally accepted in that culture.” (Luco, Week 3 Notes, p.9) Cultural Relativism is simply a combination of the following three theses: 1. The only criterion of moral truth or falsehood is the moral code of a cultural group. 2. A moral claim is true, relative to a culture’s moral code, if and only if the claim is generally accepted within that cultural
Our moral beliefs indicate the kind of environment or culture we grew up in. Therefore, if we were born in Somalia, we would believe that it is morally right to go through female circumcision as a rite of passage. However, if we grew up in the western world, then we would not believe in female circumcision. We can therefore see the relativist 's argument of cultural relativism in this case, because if cultural relativism exists, then naturally, morality will also be relative. Additionally, to support his stance, the relativist will also argue that tolerance comes into play when it comes to cultural relativism.
Allan Bloom advances a controversial thesis in his book The Closing of the American Mind. Bloom postulates that the American educational system is failing today’s students by perpetuating moral relativism while neglecting the “great books”. The great books for Bloom include those of Plato, Aristotle, etc. These books are considered great works of western thought as they approach questions of culture and morality and believe there is a correct answer. Contemporary American society no longer seeks answers to these questions as moral relativism destroyed the existence of an answer.
Moral Relativism, should it be abandoned or not? This was the original question that came to my mind when starting off reading this excerpt. Mary Midgley, the author of this story, mentioned that now days we as people deny that we will ever be able to understand a culture that is not our own. That got me thinking and as I was thinking I found what she said to be relatively true. I feel as if society has shaped us as young adults to judge our culture as being the best and all other cultures as coming up second best.
There can be no common framework to resolve moral disputes or to reach agreement on ethical issues among members of different companies. Moral relativism is attractive to many philosophers and sociologists, because it seems to offer the best explanation of the variability of moral belief. It also offers a plausible way to explain how ethics is part of the world as described by modern science. Although the natural world is ultimately composed of nothing, say the relativistic ethics always has a basis in human feelings.
The three “Classical Theories of Morality” represent the philosophers’ most remarkable theories ever produced, in moral philosophy. Each writes his personal account of morality and ethics, over a span of thousands of years among the theories (Arthur & Scalet, 2014). In this paper, I will connect the three “Classical Theories of Morality” to my cultural identity and explain how it aligns to my social personality. As a conclusion, I will elaborate how a cultural identity impacts social responsibility.
In this prompt the argument that Morality exists is irrelevant, contrary to our thoughts and beliefs. Everyone follows a set of moral rules. Ethical relativists disagree with this belief because, they believe that morals are distinctive from each individual culture. These relativists as described are mixing up moral and cultural distinctions, or are simply not willing to completely understanding the cultures they are standing up for. There are two different types of relativism Ethical, and Cultural, that rely upon the argument of cultural differences, which have flaws that make the argument unsound.
If we take a look at the different cultures in the world, we will see that the idea of what is ethically acceptable is vastly different. When the United Nations signed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, they had attempted to provide the world with a guideline of how we should ethically treat people. In many cases this declaration did not succeed and different cultures have their own ethical guidelines which go against this declaration. These culture specific ethics are defined as cultural relativism (Brusseau, 2012). Cultural relativism is the belief that ethics are not the result of universal reason; they are solely based on the individual cultures history (Brusseau, 2012).
“Disagreement about moral codes seems to reflect people’s adherence to and participation in different ways of life” (pg. 176). One culture should not be considered more moral than another, as well not to considered one correct or right over another one. This is almost similar to moral relativism, in which what is morally
To better explain, moral relativism states that moral judgments are true or false, but “only relative to some particular standpoint
Philosophy professor Emrys Westacott defines moral relativism as "the view that moral judgments are true or false only relative to some particular standpoint (for instance, that of a culture or a historical period) and that no standpoint is uniquely privileged over all others. " This principle poses many problems.
This is because of moral relativism’s take on ethical dilemmas, and the view that there are a number of disagreements among people as to the nature of morality. An act can
Moreover, there is no universal truth in ethics, only various cultural codes instead. On the other point of view, it has been suggested that the world should derive an objective truth in every action. This essay will argue against the existence of objective truth in
In other words, “right” or “wrong” are culture specific, what is considered moral in one society may be considered immoral in another, and, since no universal standard of morality that exist, no one has the right to judge another societies custom (Ess, 2009). Cultural Relativism is closely related to ethical relativism, which views truth as variable and not absolute. What makes up right and wrong is determined solely by individual or the society (Ess, 2009). Since the truth is not object, there can be no standards which applies to all cultures.
Megan Ferrell, I agree that relative ethics are the actions or beliefs considered to be ethical by a religion or culture. Relative ethics supports the view that the truth of moral principles is relative to each individual (Gowans, 2015). Relativism pertains to how people should regard or behave toward others that they may morally disagree, it is the idea that what we consider right or wrong ethically depends on the society and their considerations (Gowans, 2015). Peoples thoughts about ethical relativism varies widely even though philosophers appear to be critical of ethical relativism. Ethical relativism is connected with a normal position about how we should think or act toward those with disagree and that we should tolerate (Gowans, 2015).
• Ethical Theories An ethical theory is a decision model .These theories depicts the viewpoints from which people seek guidance as they make decisions. Each theory highlights different points, different decision making style or a decision rule. Ethical theories are based on individual’s ethical ideology these theories allow a person to find an answer to an issue, to make a morally right decision or to justify a decision.