Moral Relativism | Ethics Defined

McCombs School of Business

18 Dec 201802:00

Summary

TLDRMoral relativism posits that moral principles vary by culture, with no universal standards. Descriptive moral relativism acknowledges cultural differences in moral values, while meta-ethical moral relativism asserts there's no objective basis for preferring one culture's values over another. Normative moral relativism suggests societies should respect differing moral values, though many philosophers challenge this, arguing against the acceptance of unethical practices simply because they are culturally accepted. Moral relativism contrasts with moral absolutism, which holds that there is always one correct answer to ethical questions.

Takeaways

📚 Moral Relativism suggests that moral principles are not universal but vary from person to person.
🌐 Descriptive Moral Relativism, or cultural relativism, posits that moral standards are defined by culture and can differ significantly across societies.
🌍 There may be some values like honesty and respect that are nearly universal, but many moral standards are culturally specific.
🤔 Meta-ethical Moral Relativism argues that there are no objective grounds to prefer one culture's moral values over another's.
🏛 Societies make moral choices based on their unique beliefs, customs, and practices, reflecting their cultural context.
🧐 People often believe that the 'right' moral values are those that exist in their own culture, indicating a natural bias towards one's own moral framework.
🤝 Normative Moral Relativism proposes that societies should accept each other's differing moral values in the absence of universal moral principles.
🤓 Most philosophers disagree with Normative Moral Relativism, arguing that some moral practices, like bribery, can still be rightfully condemned regardless of cultural acceptance.
🔍 Moral Relativism stands in contrast to Moral Absolutism, which asserts that there is always one correct answer to any ethical question.
🏛 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do' is a phrase often used by moral relativists to illustrate the idea of conforming to local moral customs.
💭 The script highlights a philosophical debate about the nature of morality, challenging the notion of a single, universal moral code.

Q & A

What is Moral Relativism?
-Moral Relativism is the concept that there are no universal or absolute moral principles, advocating for individual or cultural moral standards.
What does the phrase 'to each her own' imply in the context of moral relativism?
-The phrase 'to each her own' implies that moral judgments are subjective and vary from person to person, aligning with the moral relativist view that there is no single 'correct' morality.
How is Descriptive Moral Relativism defined?
-Descriptive Moral Relativism, also known as cultural relativism, posits that moral standards are defined by culture and that these standards can vary significantly across different societies.
What are some values that might be considered nearly universal, as mentioned in the script?
-Values such as honesty and respect are suggested as being nearly universal, despite the existence of many cultural differences in moral standards.
What does Meta-ethical Moral Relativism assert about moral values?
-Meta-ethical Moral Relativism asserts that there are no objective grounds for preferring the moral values of one culture over another, as societies make moral choices based on their unique beliefs, customs, and practices.
Why might people believe that the 'right' moral values are those of their own culture?
-People may believe that the 'right' moral values are those of their own culture due to familiarity, upbringing, and the influence of their cultural environment on their moral beliefs.
What is Normative Moral Relativism and what does it propose?
-Normative Moral Relativism is the idea that all societies should accept each other's differing moral values, given the absence of universal moral principles.
Why do most philosophers disagree with Normative Moral Relativism?
-Most philosophers disagree because they believe that certain moral standards, such as the condemnation of bribery, should not be subject to cultural acceptance and should be universally upheld.
How does Moral Relativism contrast with Moral Absolutism?
-Moral Relativism contrasts with Moral Absolutism by rejecting the idea of a single right answer to any ethical question, whereas Moral Absolutism asserts that there is always one correct moral answer.
What is the implication of the phrase 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do' in the context of moral relativism?
-The phrase 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do' implies that one should follow the moral customs and practices of the local culture when in a different society, which is a common sentiment among moral relativists.
How might moral relativism affect international relations and cultural exchanges?
-Moral relativism might influence international relations and cultural exchanges by promoting tolerance and understanding of different moral values, but it could also lead to conflicts when certain practices are deemed unacceptable by other cultures.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 Introduction to Moral Relativism

Moral relativism is the belief that no universal or absolute moral principles exist. This philosophy advocates for individual or cultural moral perspectives, often encapsulated by the phrase, 'Who am I to judge?' It acknowledges that different cultures have their own moral standards, with some values, like honesty and respect, appearing nearly universal. However, significant differences in moral standards are evident across cultures worldwide.

🌍 Descriptive Moral Relativism (Cultural Relativism)

Descriptive moral relativism, also known as cultural relativism, asserts that moral standards are defined by cultural contexts. It highlights that while some moral values may seem universal, such as honesty, there are many cultural differences in how people evaluate moral standards. This form of relativism explains that societies develop their moral codes based on their unique beliefs, customs, and practices.

⚖️ Meta-Ethical Moral Relativism

Meta-ethical moral relativism posits that there are no objective grounds for preferring the moral values of one culture over another. It suggests that each society's moral choices are shaped by its specific beliefs and customs, leading people to naturally believe that their own culture's moral values are 'right.' This perspective challenges the idea of universal moral principles.

🤝 Normative Moral Relativism

Normative moral relativism advocates for the acceptance of differing moral values across societies, based on the premise that there are no universal moral principles. It suggests that societies should respect each other’s moral values. However, this view is controversial among philosophers, as some argue that certain practices, like bribery, can be condemned even if they are acceptable in some cultures.

🎯 Moral Relativism vs. Moral Absolutism

Moral relativism contrasts with moral absolutism, which holds that there is always one correct answer to any ethical question. Relativists believe in adapting to the moral standards of different cultures ('When in Rome, do as the Romans do'), whereas absolutists maintain that some moral principles are universally applicable, regardless of cultural differences.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Moral Relativism

Moral Relativism is the central theme of the video, suggesting that moral principles are not universal but are instead relative to individual or cultural perspectives. It challenges the idea of absolute moral truths, emphasizing that what is considered right or wrong can vary greatly from one society to another. The script uses this concept to explore different cultural practices and the philosophical stance that there are no objective grounds for preferring one set of moral values over another.

💡Cultural Relativism

Cultural Relativism is a specific form of moral relativism that posits moral standards are defined by culture. The script highlights this by stating that while some values like honesty and respect might seem nearly universal, there are significant differences in moral standards across cultures. This concept is crucial in understanding the diversity of moral beliefs and the importance of context in moral judgments.

💡Meta-ethical Moral Relativism

Meta-ethical Moral Relativism is a philosophical stance that argues there are no objective criteria to prefer the moral values of one culture over another. It is a key concept in the script, illustrating the idea that societies make moral choices based on their unique beliefs and practices, and that there is no universal standard to judge these choices against.

💡Normative Moral Relativism

Normative Moral Relativism is the proposition that societies should accept each other's differing moral values in the absence of universal moral principles. The script mentions this concept to discuss the idea that acceptance of diverse moral values is a part of moral relativism, although it also notes that most philosophers disagree with this stance, suggesting that some moral practices can be criticized even if they are culturally accepted.

💡Moral Absolutism

Moral Absolutism is presented as the philosophical opposite to moral relativism. It asserts that there is always one right answer to any ethical question, regardless of cultural context. The script contrasts this with moral relativism by stating that absolutists would not subscribe to the idea of 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do,' implying a rigid adherence to a set of universal moral principles.

💡Universal Moral Principles

The concept of Universal Moral Principles is the idea that there exist certain moral standards that apply to all people, regardless of culture or context. The script discusses this in the context of moral relativism, arguing that if such principles existed, they would provide an objective standard to judge moral values across cultures, which is something that moral relativists deny.

💡Cultural Practices

Cultural Practices are the customs, rituals, and behaviors that are characteristic of a particular society. The script uses this term to illustrate how different societies may have different moral standards, which are reflected in their practices. For example, the acceptance of bribery in some cultures is contrasted with the condemnation of it in others.

💡Beliefs

Beliefs are the convictions or acceptances that guide an individual's or a society's actions and judgments. In the context of the script, beliefs are what inform the moral choices of a society, and they are integral to understanding why different cultures may have different moral values.

💡Customs

Customs refer to traditional and typically longstanding practices of a community. The script mentions customs as part of what defines a culture's moral standards, suggesting that these practices are deeply ingrained and influential in shaping moral values.

💡Honesty

Honesty is presented in the script as a value that may be considered nearly universal, suggesting that it is widely regarded as a moral good across different cultures. However, the script also notes that despite such commonalities, the interpretation and application of honesty can still vary between cultures.

💡Respect

Respect, like honesty, is mentioned as a value that is generally upheld across cultures, indicating a broad agreement on its moral importance. The script uses respect to highlight the existence of shared moral values while also emphasizing the diversity in how these values are understood and applied.

Highlights

Moral relativism is the concept that there are no universal or absolute moral principles.

Moral relativism suggests that morality is subjective and varies from person to person.

Descriptive moral relativism, or cultural relativism, posits that moral standards are defined by culture.

Some values like honesty and respect may appear nearly universal across cultures.

There are significant differences in moral standards when comparing different cultures globally.

Meta-ethical moral relativism argues that there are no objective grounds for preferring one culture's moral values over another.

Societies make moral choices based on their unique beliefs, customs, and practices.

People often believe that the 'right' moral values are those that exist in their own culture.

Normative moral relativism proposes that societies should accept each other's differing moral values in the absence of universal principles.

Many philosophers disagree with normative moral relativism, arguing that cultural practices like bribery can still be condemned by other cultures.

Moral relativism stands in contrast to moral absolutism, which asserts there is always one right answer to any ethical question.

Adherents of moral relativism might say, 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do,' implying acceptance of local moral customs.

The transcript explores the idea that moral values are not fixed but are instead influenced by cultural context.

It discusses the philosophical debate between moral relativism and the existence of universal moral principles.

The transcript highlights the complexity of moral judgments across different societies and the implications for ethical decision-making.

It raises questions about the validity of one culture's moral standards being imposed on another.

The transcript examines the potential for moral growth and understanding through the recognition of cultural differences in moral values.

It suggests that moral relativism challenges the notion of a single, universally accepted set of moral rules.