Taking Ethics Seriously

Ethical Relativism

Ethical Relativism Moral truths are not absolutely true, but “true” relative to some particular standards

Ethical Relativism Moral truths are not absolutely true, but “true” relative to some particular standards One’s culture

Ethical Relativism Moral truths are not absolutely true, but “true” relative to some particular standards One’s culture One’s personal opinion

Ethical Relativism Moral truths are not absolutely true, but “true” relative to some particular standards One’s culture Cultural relativism: Moral truths are not absolutely true but are relative to a particular society. One’s personal opinion

Ethical Relativism Moral truths are not absolutely true, but “true” relative to some particular standards One’s culture Cultural relativism: Moral truths are not absolutely true but are relative to a particular society. Whether an act is right or wrong depends on the moral norms of society and not on an absolute standard. One’s personal opinion

Ethical Relativism Moral truths are not absolutely true, but “true” relative to some particular standards One’s culture Cultural relativism: Moral truths are not absolutely true but are relative to a particular society. Whether an act is right or wrong depends on the moral norms of society and not on an absolute standard. One’s personal opinion Individual relativism: Moral truths are not absolute but relative to individuals.

Ethical Relativism Moral truths are not absolutely true, but “true” relative to some particular standards One’s culture Cultural relativism: Moral truths are not absolutely true but are relative to a particular society. Whether an act is right or wrong depends on the moral norms of society and not on an absolute standard. One’s personal opinion Subjectivism: Moral truths are not absolute but relative to individuals. Whether an act is right or wrong depends on the convictions of the person performing it and not on an absolute standard.

Ethical Relativism For some, a corollary to a more general relativism – there’s no “real world” at all, no “objective truth” about anything.

Ethical Relativism For some, a corollary to a more general relativism – there’s no “real world” at all, no “objective truth” about anything. If there are no facts, then of course there aren’t moral facts

NOTHING IS TRUE

NOTHING IS TRUE Is that true?

Ethical Relativism For some, a corollary to a more general relativism – there’s no “real world” at all, no “objective truth” about anything. For others, there may be facts, but just not moral facts. So, realism about the world but relativism about ethics.

Ethical Relativism For some, a corollary to a more general relativism – there’s no “real world” at all, no “objective truth” about anything. For others, there may be facts, but just not moral facts. So, realism about the world but relativism about ethics. Why?

Some things are relative “Manners” – these are different from one culture to another, and within one culture different over time

Some things are relative “Manners” – these are different from one culture to another, and within one culture different over time Social coordination rules – e.g. traffic rules

Some things are relative “Manners” – these are different from one culture to another, and within one culture different over time Social coordination rules – e.g. traffic rules Pluralism of individual preferences

Some things are relative “Manners” – these are different from one culture to another, and within one culture different over time Social coordination rules – e.g. traffic rules Pluralism of individual preferences We really do want to understand these sorts of normative claims as relativistic

Ethical relativism gets traction by inviting comparison between those normative claims which are best understood as relativistic and moral claims.

Ethical relativism gets traction by inviting comparison between those normative claims which are best understood as relativistic and moral claims. Our question: Is this a warranted move?

Ethical relativism gets traction by inviting comparison between those normative claims which are best understood as relativistic and moral claims. Our question: Is this a warranted move? So: let’s consider Richter’s four arguments against relativism