PHIL 115 - Ch 3: Ethical Relativism

Descriptive relativism

Makes empirical/factual/descriptive claim that there are different ideas regarding (diverse) values

ex/ cultures vary in terms of what they value as moral.

• is true

Metaethical relativism

Claims that there are NO objective or ABSOLUTE values that could mediate ethical disputes

Objectivism

Idea that there IS an objective/universal right & wrong

What is the difference between descriptive relativism and metaethical relativism?

Descriptive relativism is true—a factual account that there is cultural diversity. However, metaethical relativism asks questions about the nature of value and moral judgment. The fact that there is cultural diversity is typically used as evidence to support moral relativism.

Subjectivism (aka individual relativism)

Type of relativism that claims that ethical claims are relative to an individual’s perspective and personal values.

**similar to taste

ex/ upbringing and experiences determine values

Cultural relativism

Type of descriptive relativism; descriptive claim abt the fact that values differ depending on cultural context

• NO society’s views/practices are BETTER than another culture’s

These 3 things are true of cultural relativism:

1. No society’s views are better or worse than any other society’s views.

2. The basis for moral judgments lies in social or cultural views.

3. Moral and ethical judgments are valid when applied internally to a particular culture.

Ethnocentric

tendency to view your own culture as superior to others

• relates to cultural relativist idea that you shouldn’t judge another person’s culture

Relativism is a type of…(what concepts)?

1. Skepticism

2. Nihlism

Skepticism

Questioning and doubting attitude that suggests that we CANNOT know the objective source of a value

Paradox of skepticism?

Claim that cannot KNOW truth, but still actively search for truth/objective source of a value

• doesn’t reject it like nihilism

Nihlism (“Nothing-ism”)

Claim that there are NO universal/objectively true values

Paradox of Nihlism?

belief of nothing is a belief that the nihilist holds to be TRUE

What did Gilbert Harman say about Nihlism?

Nihlism is the “doctrine that there are NO moral facts, truth, & knowledge.”

What did Gilbert Harman argue?

He argued that morla truths.knowledge defined within our culture are MERELY CONVENTIONAL (product of the world we live in ).

Skepticism is a ________ claim

Epistemological (claim knowledge with regard to methods, validity, and SCOPE)

Nihlism is a _______ claim.

Metaphysical (claim regarding nature of reality, existence, and universe)

• derived from Greek for “after nature”

Perspectivism

idea that there’s only perspectives/interpretations on the world; cannot be reduced to fundamental fact of the world

Pluralism

claim that there’s multiple values/goods

Pragmatism

rejects the idea that there is any universal ethical principle or universal value » holds that ethical principles = social constructs to be evaluated in terms of their usefullness/practicalness

• relative, subjective to context

What was Alain Locke essay “Cultural Relativism & Ideological Peace” (1935) about?

Cultural relativism is a necessary foundation for Ideological Peace (greater understanding among others).

• emphasized principles of cultural equivalence and moving away from prejudiced view of cultures

• counter to absolutism

Arguments in favor of relativism

1. Fact of moral diversity (descriptive relativism)

2. desire to be tolerant & open-minded (avoid ethnocentrism)

3. moral uncertainty (how can we know what the supposed realm of value is?)

4. situational differences

Arguments against relativism

1. Relativism = self-contradictory since it claims smth like “it is true that there’s no truth”

2. cannot be criticized since there are no universal values (apparently)

3. Not necessarily connected w/ tolerance bc not possible to give affirmative argument about tolerance from relativist POV (bc then would be asserting an obj truth)

4. diversity of views = in science, but still seen as a source of objectivity

Difference between relativism and commitment to tolerance?

Relativism:

• no universal norms

• tell how to deal with cross-cultural interaction

Tolerance:

• culturally relative

• hold that each culture is RIGHT

• each value = good & must be cultivated

• may argue that it is WRONG to be intolerant

What did Louis Pojman say about relativism?

If relative, there would be NO basis for critique or reform

What did Anita Superson say about relativism?

Relativism is an issue for movement like feminism would need an OBJECTIVE standard of criticism.

Dilemma of skepticism

moral uncertainty - since only see things thru our perspective, we can never know things as there are

Absolutism

metaethical idea that moral rules have NO exceptions, independent of context/consequences & a universal, unchanging set of moral principles exists for all ppl at all times

**NOT THE SAME AS OBJECTIVISM

Absolutism is a type of ________.

Objectivism

Moral relativism

Opposite of absolutism; holds that moral standards are subjective and are context-dependent.

Arguments against relativism can set up what kind of fallacy?

Strawman = fallacy that describes an opponent’s position in such a way as to easily dismiss it

Moral realism

idea that there are ethical facts & moral judgments can be said to be T/F

• type of objectivism

Realism

view that there exists a reality independent of those who know it

What authors are associated with value pluralism?

Associated with authors Alain Locke, Martha Nussbaum, and WD Ross

Value pluralism

idea that holds that it is not possible to reduce moral judgments to some singular, universal, or absolute claim about what is good.

What did Nussbaum claim about value pluralism?

Value pluralism is related to the claim that there are few typical items on a list of values.

What did WD Ross say about value pluralism?

There are a set of prima facie values.

What are Prima facie values?

important duties that are obligatory at “first sight” or “on the face of it” unless they are overridden by a more compelling moral reason.

The capabilities approach of weak relativistic ethics was developed by whom?

Martha Nussbaum & Amartya Sen

“Capabilities Approach”

normative political theory that discusses what ppl are actually CAPABLE of doing; emphasizes universal human entitlements to a list of central capabilities (e.g., life, health, education, political participation).

• universalist approach, but sensitive to other cultures

Alain Locke articulated a theory of cultural relativism that argues for what concept?

Reciprocity

Reciprocity

concept supported by Alain Locke by which there should be a mutual understanding and “give-and-take” (diffusion) between cultures

• cultural pluralism

If one believes stealing is wrong but that there are certain conditions under which stealing is right, then one takes what view?

Pragmatist

GE Moore argues that we intuit goodness, rather than attach goodness to people and acts, which is an example of what viewpoint?

Moral realism

• Intuitionism is a cognitivist theory

• means that moral claims under this viewpoint can be considered T/F

What is William James’ and John Dewey’s pluralist philosophy called?

Pragmatism

Opposite of nihlism

objectivism

For the Hmong family of Lia, her epilepsy was a spiritual condition, but the doctors gave her medicine to treat epilepsy anyway. This is an example of what problem?

Cultural competency

When WD Ross says that we have Prima facie duties, he means that we these duties in what way?

Intuitively

Martha Nussbaum and WD Ross have what in common in their approach to ethics?

Pluralism

Nussbaum = (Capabilities) there are multiple features of human flourishing/what ppl can do

Ross = duties can conflict bc there are multiple of them

What challenge do Ross’ Prima facie duties present to moral decision making?

Duties conflict

What did William James say about pluralism?

pluralism means embracing diversity and multiple realities as a fundamental feature of the universe

What did John Dewey say about pluralism?

pluralism is about embracing diversity and open dialogue in society and ethics, fostering progress through cooperative inquiry and respect for multiple perspectives.