HELP

core idea

What is right and what is wrong for members of a culture depends on the basic moral norms of their culture

Moral code

Set of moral norms (rules) accepted by individuals/cultures

Basic norms

a culture’s fundamental moral principle.

derived norms

a specific rule that follows from one or more basic norms.

cultural standards

holds that what is considered "right" or "wrong" is entirely dependent on the, often implicit, rules of a given society.

An action is OBLIGATORY if and only if the basic norms of C

require A

An action is WRONG if and only if the basic norms of C

prohibit A

An action is OPTIONAL if and only if basic moral norms of C

dont gaf about A

Descriptive Norm

What people actually do in practice (in environmentalist cultures, people bike instead of drive)

Prescriptive norm

What people ought to do or are requires/forbidden to do (one ought to reduce ones carbon footprint OR one should bike instead of drive)

Standard

object of ambition. An aim or desired goal (kant calls “ends”)

Ex. sustainability

Criteria

means of qualifying a standard

Ex. a criterion of sustainability is reducing one’s carbon footprint

Norm

descriptive behavior that is typical or expected of a culture or subculture

Ex. a norm of sustainable cultures is biking instead of craving, which reduces one’s carbon footprint

Context Sensitivity Thesis (CS)

The rightness/wrongness of specific actions partly depends on nonmoral facts about the context (agent’s abilities, cultural meanings, circumstances) THE DROWNING CHILD SITUATION

Moral diversity thesis (MD)

1. Some cultures have basic moral norms that conflict with those of other cultures

2. Such fundamental conflicts are widespread

Prohibition vs. Requirement

One culture forbids X, another requires X

Requirement vs. Permission

One culture requires X, another merely permits it

Prohibition vs. Permission

One culture forbids X, another permits it

Priority Conflicts

Cultures share values but prioritize them differently

Non-Fundamental Disagreement

Disagreement stems from different nonmoral beliefs, not different moral norms

share same basic moral norms but disagree about nonmoral codes

Fundamental Disagreement

Disagreement rooted in different basic moral norms, persists even if we agree on all facts

people have different basic moral norms–disagreement persists even if they agree on all facts

Inconsistency problem

different cultures have different norms, and moral relativism cant define which is correct

Intercultural evaluation problem

we cant criticize other cultures moral norms, but in the case of the nazi genocide, according to moral relativismm that was “right” for them. so we cant say it was wrong, but we do anyway

Moral progress problem

moral relativism says we cant call changes to cultures norms “good” or “bad”, just that they changed

Moral performer problem

anyone who goes against the norms of a culture. by default, they are “wrong” in the eyes of the culture. but they and we think theyre right depending on what those changes they want are

Dictionary analogy

dictionaries define what things are. but is that really exactly what that is? no! its only whats correct specifically in that language. only a culture can define what its norms are, and whether theyre right or wrong

internal support + explanatory power

saying something is right just because everyone else does it. does it really explain why something is right or wrong? confuses acceptance with truth

pluralistic relativism

There ARE universal constraints on morality (based on human nature and morality’s functions), BUT multiple moral codes can satisfy these constraints

like:

Intrapersonal function: morality must shape character and specify worthwhile lives given universal human needs (intimacy, status, knowledge, etc.)

Interpersonal function: morality must promote cooperation given facts about human nature (requires norms of reciprocity)

Justifiability: moral norms cant rest on falsehoods, rules out norms based on false beliefs about targeted groups)

Unrestricted (conventionalism) relativism

no universal constraints, entirely culturel-dependent

Restricted (Pluralistic Relativism)

universal constraints exist with multiple correct moralties possible within