Ethical Subjectivism & Ethical Relativism. Benedict. Benedict says the wide-spread “standard” cultural values of modern, Western societies has created a “false sense of inevitability of the particular” moral values. Arguments in Support of Cultural Relativism. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Ethical Relativism
Ethical Subjectivism & Ethical Relativism
BenedictBenedict says the wide-spread standard cultural values
of modern, Western societies has created a false sense of
inevitability of the particular moral values.
Arguments in Support of Cultural RelativismDifferent societies
have different moral codes.
There is no objective standard that can be used to judge one
societal code better than another.
The moral code of our own society has no special status.
There is no universal truth in ethics.
The moral code of a society determines what is right within that
society.
We should reject arrogance and adopt an attitude of tolerance
toward the practices of other cultures.
The Cultural Relativism ArgumentPeoples judgment about right and
wrong differ from culture to culture.
If peoples judgments about right and wrong differ from culture
to culture, then right and wrong are relative to culture, and there
are no objective moral principles.Therefore, right and wrong are
relative to culture, and there are no objective moral
principles.
Is cultural relativism and viable ethical theory?
Moral ProgressWhat is moral progress and moral reform?
Have human being made moral progress?
Should we try to do so?
Warren Jeffs and his 12 year-old child bride, May 2008Ethical
SubjectivismDifferent people have different moral codes.
There is no objective standard that can be used to judge one
persons code as better than another.
Our own moral code has no special status.
There is no universal truth in ethics.
The moral code of a person determines what is right for that
person.
We should reject arrogance and adopt an attitude of tolerance
toward the practices of others.
Moral Values vs. Expressions of Moral Values
Beliefs vs. Moral ValuesMonogamy.
Incest.
Justified foreign war.
The Truth. Honesty.
Well-being, health.
Murder.
Telling the truth.An Example StandardDoes the practice promote
or hinder the welfare of the people whose lives are affected by
it?
Is there an alternative set of social arrangements that would do
a better job of promoting their welfare?Are there universal
qualities associated with individual and social welfare?
