Ch 3 Ethical Relativism Flashcards
What role does culture play in moral behavior?
Culture plays a very influential and crucial role in the development and formation of one’s moral character.
Studies in Sociology and Anthropology show that one cannot truly separate morality from culture.
How is ethical relativism defined?
Ethical relativism refers to the view that ethical values and beliefs are relative to time, place, persons, situations, and societies.
It holds that there are no universally valid moral principles.
What do ethical relativists believe about moral actions?
For ethical relativists, whether an action is right or wrong depends on the moral norms of society or the moral commitments of the individual.
They contend that no absolute standard exists for judging different rules or commitments.
What is the Cultural Differences Argument in support of ethical relativism?
The Cultural Differences Argument states that moral diversity exists among cultures, and different societies have vastly different moral codes.
This diversity leads to skepticism about the existence of an objective moral truth.
What is the Argument from Respect in ethical relativism?
The Argument from Respect suggests that if moral codes differ across cultures, then no culture has the right to impose its ethical views on others, promoting tolerance.
This view is particularly appealing to younger generations.
What does the Psychological Argument state regarding moral beliefs?
The Psychological Argument suggests that our moral beliefs are conditioned by our upbringing and experiences, leading to the conclusion that moral beliefs are neither true nor false.
This implies that moral truth is relative to one’s psychological upbringing.
What is the Conformity Argument in support of ethical relativism?
The Conformity Argument posits that individuals should conform to the ethical code of their respective societies, as it fosters a sense of common morality within a culture.
This creates a democratic basis for societal norms.
What is the Provability Argument against objective moral truth?
The Provability Argument states that moral disputes and the difficulty in determining what is morally right suggest that there is no objective truth in ethics.
It asserts that we cannot prove which moral opinions are true or false.
What is a critical evaluation of the relationship between cultural diversity and ethical relativism?
Cultural diversity does not necessarily imply ethical relativism; it does not establish the truth of ethical relativism.
Cultural diversity is a fact but does not deny the objectivity of moral values.
What contradiction arises from the claim that morality is relative to culture?
If everything is relative, then the truth of relativism itself would also be relative, leading to a self-contradiction.
Ethical Relativism can be seen as inconsistent as it claims universal acceptance of its views.
How is tolerance viewed in the context of ethical relativism?
Tolerance is viewed as a virtue, but if morality is relative, there is no obligation to practice tolerance if a culture does not value it.
This presents a contradiction within ethical relativism regarding the promotion of tolerance.
What is the flaw in the Psychological Argument according to critics?
Critics argue that the Psychological Argument is fallacious because the conclusion that there is no objective moral truth does not logically follow from how we acquire our moral beliefs.
The argument commits the genetic fallacy and misinterpretation.
What does ethical relativism imply about moral judgment?
Ethical relativism implies that no independent way exists to criticize other cultures’ moral beliefs, promoting a stance of tolerance.
However, this stance raises questions about the validity of moral standards.
True or False: Ethical relativism supports the idea of a universal moral truth.
False
Ethical relativism denies the existence of universally valid moral principles.
Fill in the blank: Ethical relativism is a theory that holds that there are no __________ valid moral principles.
universally
This means all moral values are valid relative to culture or individual choice.
What is the Psychological Argument criticized for?
It commits the genetic fallacy and the fallacy of misinterpretation.
What does the Psychological Argument overstate?
It overstates the role of social conditioning in moral development.
What is considered a crucial factor in moral development according to Existentialist philosophers?
The exercise of a person’s freedom of choice or free will.
Fill in the blank: According to the Psychological Argument, a person’s morality is a function of their _______.
[free volition]
What fallacy does disregarding early psychological upbringing in moral formation commit?
Fallacy of oversimplification.
What is the Argument from Conformity in Ethical Relativism?
It states that what a society believes to be right is right for that society.
People are following the morality of the majority to fit in society. Collective beliefs
What does Ethical Relativism reduce morality to?
A social contract or group consensus.
True or False: According to the Argument from Conformity, the majority is always right.
True.
What is a major flaw in the Argument from Conformity?
It ignores the possibility of moral correctness among minorities.
