Sources of Authority

Origin of External Authority

Derived from societal norms, legal systems, religious doctrines, or cultural traditions

Influence of External Authority

Guides behavior through external rules, regulations, or expectations, often driven by fear of punishment or societal approval

Origin of Internal Authority

Stems from an individual's values, conscience, and sense of morality

Influence of Internal Authority

Guides behavior based on personal convictions, moral values, and ethical beliefs, driven by an internal moral compass

What type of authority is Law(State)

External authority

Law(State)

system of rules, regulations, and principles established by a governing authority (such as a government) to regulate the behavior of individuals and groups within a society.

What type of authority is Religion(Faith)

External Authority

What type of authority is Culture

External Authority

Culture

cultural relativism (aesthetic differences, religious differences , etiquette differences.)

Who defines Cultural Relativism as “THE POSITION THAT CLAIMS THAT THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS OBJECTIVE TRUTH IN THE REALM OF MORALITY. “ - meaning that since diff cultures have diff moral codes, then there is no one correct moral code to follow

James Rachels

What was considered common for the Eskimos

Infanticide

What was considered common for some Filipino tribes

Female circumcision

#1 of Absurd Consequences of accepting cultural relativism

if cultural relativism was correct, then one cannot criticize the practices or beliefs of another culture anymore as long as that culture thinks that what it is doing is correct. EX: Jews cant the Nazi’s plan to exterminate all Jews

#2 of Absurd Consequences of accepting cultural relativism

if cultural relativism was correct, then one cannot even criticize the practices or beliefs of one’s own culture. EX: black South African citizens under the system of apartheid, a policy of racial segregation that privileges the dominant race in a society, could not criticize that official state position

#3 of Absurd Consequences of accepting cultural relativism

if cultural relativism was correct, then one cannot even accept that moral progress can happen. EX: then the fact many societies now recognize women’s rights and children’s rights does not necessarily represent a better situation than before

It is important to not just accept moral beliefs without questioning them as it can…

hinder progress and may prevent individuals from challenging and revising outdated or harmful moral norms

What type of authority is Subjectivism

internal Authority

Psychological Egoism

Human beings are naturally self-centered, so all our action are always already motivated by self-interest.”

All People are Selfish 

in Everything They Do

Subjectivism

the recognition that the individual thinking person (the subject) is at the heart of all moral valuations.”

“THE INDIVIDUAL IS THE SOLE DETERMINANT OF WHAT IS MORALLY GOOD OR BAD, RIGHT OR WRONG

What type of authority is Psychological Egoism

Internal Authority

What type of authority is Ethical Egoism

Internal Authority

Internal Authority

we should make our own ends, our own interest, as the single overriding concern.

An act is right for a person to perform if and only if that act is in the person’s best interest.

We may act in a way that is beneficial to others, but we should do that only if it ultimately benefits us.