CHAPTER 19-20: Ethical Relativism and Moral Nihilism

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from Ethical Relativism, Moral Skepticism, and Moral Nihilism.

Objective moral standards

Standards that apply to everyone regardless of belief or desires; moral claims are true when they accurately state these standards or what they require.

Moral skepticism

The doubt about morality’s status—whether objective moral standards exist or have real authority.

Ethical objectivism

The view that some moral standards are objectively correct and some moral claims are objectively true.

Moral nihilism

There are no moral truths, morality is a human construct with no objective facts

Cultural relativism

Moral values are relative to culture

Ethical subjectivism

Moral values are relative to each individual

Moral features

Moral properties (e.g., goodness, badness) which nihilists deny exist in the world.

Moral judgments

Evaluative statements about morality; in nihilism, may be false (error theory) or not truth-apt (expressivism).

Error theory

A form of moral nihilism claiming there are no moral features and no moral judgments are true; all moral judgments are in error.

Expressivism

A form of moral nihilism where moral judgments express emotions or commitments rather than state factual truths; they are not truth-apt.

Fact–value distinction

The idea that facts exist while values do not; value claims are not descriptive facts.

Final say in ethics

Who has ultimate authority: in subjectivism it’s the individual; in cultural relativism it’s the culture.

Morality as a human construct

The view that morality is created by humans (like law or taste) with no uniquely correct universal set of rules.

Objective truths

Claims that are true independently of anyone’s beliefs or desires.

Moral standards relative to cultures

Morality depends on the governing ideals of each society.

Moral standards relative to individuals

Morality depends on each person’s approvals or commitments.

Moral disagreement

Disputes about morality reflecting different emotions or commitments rather than differences in moral facts.