Overview of Ethical Subjectivism and Cultural Relativism
Ethical Subjectivism
Ethical subjectivism posits that individual choices define moral truths.
Proposition: Individuals are the ultimate arbiters of moral principles.
Origin and Background of Ethical Relativism
American Anthropological Association's 1947 Statement:
Asserted a form of moral relativism: morality is contingent upon societal context.
Stated that no single moral framework can be deemed universally superior; each society operates within its own moral code.
Cultural Diversity Thesis
Empirical Assertion: Moral beliefs and practices vary significantly among cultures.
Strong Version: No universal moral norms are endorsed by every culture.
Example: Concerns about child's well-being as a potential universal moral standard.
Weak Version (Descriptive Relativism): Cultures may share a general moral outlook but differ on specifics.
Implications of Cultural Diversity Thesis
Moral Variability Within Societal Groups:
Different groups within a single society may have distinct moral codes.
Key Problem: Identifying which group's beliefs represent the overarching societal morality.
Consideration of power dynamics in determining prevailing moral norms.
Transition from Descriptive to Normative Claims
Problematic Shift:
Moving from observational data on morality disparity (descriptive) to claims about the absence of objective morality (normative).
Reference to Hume's Law: One cannot derive moral claims directly from facts without moral premises.
Attractions of Ethical Relativism
Promotion of Tolerance:
If no society's morality is superior, it fosters greater cultural tolerance.
Challenges the notion of Western superiority over 'primitive' cultures.
Anti-interventionism:
Encourages non-interference in cultural practices; advocates respect for cultural differences.
Recognition of Moral Authority:
Acknowledges that moral codes are human-constructed and context-dependent.
Core Tenets of Cultural Relativism
Moral judgments are valid only within a particular societal context.
Example: Polygamy seen as immoral in the U.S. may be acceptable in other cultures.
No objective moral framework exists that can be deemed better or superior to others.
Historical Context: Arguments from figures like Plato often assert the superiority of one moral view over others.
Examples Illustrating Relativism
Statement Analysis: "Slavery is immoral" is conditionally true based on societal moral frameworks.
In early 1800s South Carolina, differing moral views validate slavery as acceptable within that context.
Differential Approaches to Morality
Temporal and Cultural Variability:
Complications arise when comparing moral frameworks across time periods or within diverse communities in a single society (e.g., Amish vs. modern Americans).
Knowledge Acquisition in a Relativist Framework
Gaining Ethical Understanding:
Observing societal practices to derive moral truths; no need for external validation or universal perspectives.
Objections to Cultural Relativism
Cultural Diversity Thesis Critiques:
Challenges the foundational assumption by suggesting not all societies possess fundamentally distinct moral codes.
Tolerance and Non-interventionism Goals:
Examining if the promotion of tolerance is achievable under relativism:
Argument against the idea that societies can be uniformly tolerant or intolerable without objective standards undermining relativism.
Invalidating Extremes:
The relativist may struggle to critique intolerant societies (e.g., those endorsing harmful practices) when all moral frameworks are deemed valid.
The Role of Objective Moral Truths
Engaging with Ethical Objectivism:
If objective truths exist, societal moral practices are measured against these truths, negating the relativist perspective.
Need for stronger arguments against the existence of objective morality beyond mere analogy.
Summary and Further Direction
Set against universal ethical perspectives, cultural relativism remains subject to significant critique.
Crucial Discussion Points:
How to reconcile moral disagreements across cultural boundaries.
The implications of accepting or rejecting relativism in ethical discussions.