2. What is Moral Relativism?
Definition:
Moral relativism can be 3 different types of
positions, descriptive, meta-ethical, or
normative, depending on the differences of moral
judgments amongst a certain people or culture.
– Descriptive: describes the way things are, without
suggesting a way they should be. This is to say that people
frequently disagree over what is the most “moral” course
of action.
– Meta-ethical: is the position that the truth or the falsity of
moral judgments is not objective. Justification for moral
judgments is relative to the traditions, convictions, or
practices of an individual or group of people. Ex: “It’s
moral to me because I believe it is”.
– Normative: is the position that because there is no
universal moral standard by which we can judge others, we
should tolerate the behavior of others, even when it is
against our personal or cultural moral standards.
3. What is Moral Relativism?
• Moral Relativism- values are determined by the
society we grow up in, and there are no universal
values.
4. What is Moral Relativism?
Two forms of Moral Relativism:
Ethical Subjectivism- morality is relative to
individuals
Cultural Relativism- morality is relative to culture
-Both forms deny the existence of moral
absolutes.
5. Examples
• Although most people and cultures consider
lying to be wrong, according to moral
relativism, lying is only wrong if the individual
doing the lying feels that it is wrong.
• Some cultures eat pork while others prohibit
it.
• Some are monogamous, others are
polygamous.
