Ethics

Ethics Study Guide

Chapter 2: Ethical Relativism and Meta-ethics

©2018 Achieve Page 13 of 116 states that ethical values vary from one society to another. In order to decide what is morally correct, one must consult the moral beliefs of the society to which they belong. It is based on the dependency thesis , which states that what is moral is dependent upon human nature, the human condition, and/or specific social and cultural circumstances. Ethical relativism can be discussed from two positions: descriptive and prescriptive. Descriptive relativism notes that there are differences among ethical practices and standards of different cultures, without evaluation of their justification. It is based on empirical fact. Prescriptive relativism goes further and claims that people ought not to apply the standards of one culture to evaluate the behavior of another culture. Objectives After reading this chapter, you should be able to: 1. Explain the theory of ethical relativism and its criticisms. 2. Distinguish between meta-ethical ideas. 3. Identify weaknesses of meta-ethical positions. 4. Compare moral objectivism to moral subjectivism. 2.1 Ethical Relativism Moral relativism refers to many different ideas concerning diversity of moral judgment across time, societies, and individuals. Relativism is the theory that the truth is different for different people. Ethical relativism states that what is morally right or wrong may vary fundamentally from person to person or culture to culture. It is supported by the absence of one universal morality in the modern world. Culture influences the formation of morality, and culture is a subjective phenomenon; therefore, its products can’t be universal. Furthermore, the concept of moral pluralism suggests that there are several values which may be equally correct and fundamental, and yet in conflict with each other. Ethical relativism comes in two forms: Personal or individual relativism states that ethical judgments and beliefs are the expression of the moral attitudes of each individual person. No one person is more correct than another since right and wrong are based on personal beliefs. Morality does not expand further than the opinion of the individual on the issues. This is an ethical subjectivist view, because moral values are dependent on a will, human or divine. In this view, individual conscience is the only appropriate standard for moral judgment. To an ethical subjectivist, all the power of defining an act as moral or immoral belongs to the individual. Social or cultural relativism