PHIL 100:

Notesheet Week 24

Relativism

Introduction

Moral diversity

Cultures differ in their moral codes; What do we make of these differences?

(Does the appearance of moral diversity cloak real moral unanimity?)

The fact of moral disagreement between cultures may be psychologically undermining; but does disagreement have any rational bearing on the truth?

Facts are what they are irrespective of any beliefs.

Are moral matters matters of fact?

For an answer we need an account of what morality is all about, a theory of morality.

Cultural diversity and the moral field of force theory

Morality as a cultural artefact

The function of morality

Would society breakdown if there weren't such a thing as morality?

Criticisms of moral relativism
    1. It makes cross-cultural criticisms incoherent
    2. It makes criticisms of current moral rules within a culture incoherent
    3. It undermines a person's sense of obligation to do the moral thing. Why should one, if it's just society that creates morality?

 

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