1. Ethical Relativism

2. Cultural Relativism Herodotus Herodotus One might recall, in particular, an anecdote of Darius. When he was king of Persia, he summoned the Greeks who happened to be present at his court, and asked them what they would take to eat the dead bodies of their fathers. They replied that they would not do it for any money in the world. Later, in the presence of the Greeks, and through an interpreter, so they could understand what was said, he asked some Indians, of the tribe called Callatiae, who do in fact eat their parents’ dead bodies, what they would take to burn them. They uttered a cry of horror and forbade him to mention such a dreadful thing. One can see by this what custom can do, and Pindar, in my opinion, was right when he called it ‘king of all’.

3. The Argument P1. This culture judges practice A to be good P1. This culture judges practice A to be good P2. Our culture judges practice A to be no good P2. Our culture judges practice A to be no good ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ C1. There is no objective ground for our moral judgement respecting practice A. C1. There is no objective ground for our moral judgement respecting practice A.

4. The Argument P1. This culture judges practice A to be good P1. This culture judges practice A to be good P2. Our culture judges practice A to be no good P2. Our culture judges practice A to be no good ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ C1. There is no objective ground for our moral judgement respecting practice A. C1. There is no objective ground for our moral judgement respecting practice A. C2. There is no objective ground for their moral judgement respecting practice A. C2. There is no objective ground for their moral judgement respecting practice A.

5. The Argument P3. Different cultures make different moral judgements P3. Different cultures make different moral judgements ---------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------- C3. There is no objective ground for moral judgements C3. There is no objective ground for moral judgements

6. The Argument P4. Different cultures make different judgements with respect to X. P4. Different cultures make different judgements with respect to X. --------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- C4. There is no objective ground for judgements with respect to X. C4. There is no objective ground for judgements with respect to X.

7. The Argument HP. If there is an objective ground for judgements with respect to X then different cultures will not make different judgements with respect to X. HP. If there is an objective ground for judgements with respect to X then different cultures will not make different judgements with respect to X. P4. Different cultures make different judgements with respect to X. P4. Different cultures make different judgements with respect to X. --------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- C4. There is no objective ground for judgements with respect to X. C4. There is no objective ground for judgements with respect to X.

8. The Argument HP. If there is an objective ground for judgements with respect to X then different cultures will not make different judgements with respect to X. If A then not B HP. If there is an objective ground for judgements with respect to X then different cultures will not make different judgements with respect to X. If A then not B P4. Different cultures make different judgements with respect to X. B P4. Different cultures make different judgements with respect to X. B --------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- C4. There is no objective ground for judgements with respect to X. Not A C4. There is no objective ground for judgements with respect to X. Not A

9. The Argument The Hidden Premiss The Hidden Premiss

10. The Argument The Hidden Premiss The Hidden Premiss There is a truth about the nature of the sun

11. The Argument The Hidden Premiss The Hidden Premiss There is a truth about the nature of the sun

12. The Argument The Hidden Premiss The Hidden Premiss There is a truth about the nature of the sun

13. The Argument The Main Premiss The Main Premiss Do different cultures really have different ethical systems? Do different cultures really have different ethical systems?

14. The Argument The Main Premiss The Main Premiss Do different cultures really have different ethical systems? Do different cultures really have different ethical systems? Infanticide: Infanticide: Bad for us, good for nomads

15. The Argument The Main Premiss The Main Premiss Do different cultures really have different ethical systems? Do different cultures really have different ethical systems? Infanticide: Infanticide: Bad for us, good for nomads because We have the same moral system but Stricter circumstances have changed the balance for them

16. The Argument The Main Premiss The Main Premiss Do different cultures really have different ethical systems? Do different cultures really have different ethical systems? Bean-eating: Bean-eating: Good for us, bad for Pythagoreans

17. The Argument The Main Premiss The Main Premiss Do different cultures really have different ethical systems? Do different cultures really have different ethical systems? Bean-eating: Bean-eating: Good for us, bad for Pythagoreans because We see the actions as belonging to different categories

18. The Argument The Main Premiss The Main Premiss Do different cultures really have different ethical systems? Do different cultures really have different ethical systems? Eating our dear departed: Eating our dear departed: Bad for Greeks, good for Callatians

19. The Argument The Main Premiss The Main Premiss Do different cultures really have different ethical systems? Do different cultures really have different ethical systems? Eating our dear departed: Eating our dear departed: Bad for Greeks, good for Callatians because The expression of the same moral law differs

20. The Argument The Main Premiss The Main Premiss Do different cultures really have different ethical systems? Do different cultures really have different ethical systems? Some say there is a Universal Grammar of ethics Some say there is a Universal Grammar of ethics

21. The Argument The Main Premiss The Main Premiss Do different cultures really have different ethical systems? Do different cultures really have different ethical systems? Some say there is a Universal Grammar of ethics Some say there is a Universal Grammar of ethics Thou shalt not steal Thou shalt not steal Thou shalt do no murder Thou shalt do no murder Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour etc. etc.

22. The Argument The Conclusion The Conclusion The argument is bad. Should we believe the conclusion anyway? The argument is bad. Should we believe the conclusion anyway?

23. The Argument The Conclusion The Conclusion The argument is bad. Should we believe the conclusion anyway? The argument is bad. Should we believe the conclusion anyway? We are sure that we can judge other cultures We are sure that we can judge other cultures

24. The Argument The Conclusion The Conclusion The argument is bad. Should we believe the conclusion anyway? The argument is bad. Should we believe the conclusion anyway? We are sure that we can judge other cultures We are sure that we can judge other cultures

25. The Argument The Conclusion The Conclusion The argument is bad. Should we believe the conclusion anyway? The argument is bad. Should we believe the conclusion anyway? We are sure that we can judge other cultures We are sure that we can judge other cultures It can’t be a duty not to do so It can’t be a duty not to do so

26. The Argument The Conclusion The Conclusion The argument is bad. Should we believe the conclusion anyway? The argument is bad. Should we believe the conclusion anyway? We are sure that we can judge other cultures We are sure that we can judge other cultures It can’t be a duty not to do so It can’t be a duty not to do so We want to be able to criticise our own societies We want to be able to criticise our own societies

27. The Argument The Conclusion The Conclusion The argument is bad. Should we believe the conclusion anyway? The argument is bad. Should we believe the conclusion anyway? We are sure that we can judge other cultures We are sure that we can judge other cultures It can’t be a duty not to do so It can’t be a duty not to do so We want to be able to criticise our own societies We want to be able to criticise our own societies We want there to be moral reform, progress, heroes We want there to be moral reform, progress, heroes