Summary
Ethical Relativism summary
- Institution
- CCEA
The ethical relativism summary notes useful for revision or a refresher of the topic
[Show more]
Content preview
Ethical Relativism An approach where morality isn’t fixed but will vary
Util and Situation ethics are considered relativist but aren’t truly relative as they are
based on absolutes
Nietzsche
“God is dead”
Religious absolutes have a negative impact on freedom and no longer relevant
Jesus promoted slave morality
Master morality- “dominate others”
“Superman”
Individual Relativism
Right and wrong can differ between individuals.
Those who support this agree that morality isn’t based on absolutes but on the
values held by an individual who has the autonomy to make their own decisions.
o Emotivism
Based on inner feelings or personal values.
Morality is subjective not objective according to this approach.
“All moral values are of equal value”
o Egoism
Each individual should behave in a way that promotes their self-
interest above others.
Hardin’s lifeboat argument.
Giving aid is futile, famine etc. should be allowed to reduce the
country’s population to a level it can manage.
Egoist generally doesn’t care about the destruction of the planet.
Cultural Relativism
Different cultures have different morals and beliefs
Cultural relativists can’t pass judgement on others
Most important strength is that tolerance and acceptance is promoted.
Mackie:
o Moral absolutes can’t exist - “argument of difference”
o Some cultures aren’t completely antinomian or void of moral standards
because they are different.
Rachels:
o All cultures have common values to function
o For example, respect for human life, educate and care for children.
Jenkins:
o Golden rule is universal and can be found in many religious writings of Jews,
Muslims etc.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller sorchajones. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £10.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
53068 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy revision notes and other study material for 14 years now