Moral Relativism (Day 3)

  Do you agree with Benedict’s assertion that “normality” is completely culturally defined? Can you think of anything that might be considered “abnormal” in all human cultures?  Benedict says that, “Mankind has always preferred to say, ‘It is morally good,’ rather than ‘It is habitual,’ and the fact of this preference is matter enough for a critical science of ethics. But historically the two phrases are synonymous.” What does she mean by this? Why would humans prefer one phrase over the other? Discussion Questions

  Do you think that the two phrases (“morally good” and “habitual”) really are “synonymous”? If you don’t believe they are, why not?  Benedict ends her piece by stating that “most individuals are plastic to the moulding force of the society into which they are born.” Do you agree or disagree? If you do, does this also suggest that morality or ethical behavior is not subject to our free will? Explain.

  Ethical Relativism: The belief that there are no universal moral standards and that each society or culture determines its own moral code.  Ethical Subjectivism: The belief that there are no universal moral standards and that each human individual must determine his or her own moral code. Relativism v. Subjectivism

  Scenario 1: Janey is raised in Nazi Germany. She is taught that Jews, Homosexuals, and Gypsies are inferior beings who are destroying Germany. She is taught that these inferior beings are worthless garbage that should be exterminated. One day, Janey discovers that her neighbor, Hans, is hiding a Jew in his basement. She notifies the German police, and both Hans and the Jew are killed.  Scenario 2: Timmy is raised on a southern plantation. He is taught that Africans are inferior beings and should be bought and sold as slaves. However, Timmy disagrees and believes that all humans are equal. Timmy frees twelve slaves before he is caught and imprisoned for theft.  Is Janey ethical? Is Timmy unethical? Why or why not? Discuss in Small Groups

  Sartre Worksheet- Answer the questions and generate some of your own. Homework

  French Intellectual  Active in the French resistance to Nazi occupation  Influenced by Marx but never accepted communism  Considered to be the father of existentialism and he was the first to directly define the term existentialism. He, however, was not the first person to be considered an existentialist. Jean-Paul Sartre- Biography

 Videos  Existentialism for five year olds-  Biography of Sartre human-jean-paul-sartre/ human-jean-paul-sartre/