Nature of Morality

Question 1

Moral truths?

Answer 1

1. moral Objectivism

2. Moral relativism

Question 2

Moral Objectivism =?

Answer 2

• moral truth that are independent of what people happen to believe

Question 3

Moral relativism?

Answer 3

– moral truth that depend on what pole happen to believe
there are morally wrong/right actions which is determined by the basic of culture or norms
- An action A is right (or wrong) in culture C if and only if, and because, culture C accepts (or rejects) the norm that action A is permissible or required (or impermissible).

Question 4

moral nihilism?

Answer 4

• no moral truths

Question 5

THE ANTHROPOLOGICAL ARGUMENT FOR MORAL RELATIVISM(by Ruth Benedict)

Answer 5

p1: different cultures have different moral codes (moral diversity thesis)
p2: if the moral diversity thesis is true, then the universality thesis is false (universality thesis)
P3: if the universality thesis is false then moral relativism is true

Question 6

Culture’s moral code?

Answer 6

• A set of beliefs, desires, values, and dispositions that are shared by the majority of people in that culture

Question 7

IF moral nihilism is false, then moral relativism is true

Answer 7

1. MD
2. MD—> MR
3. therefore, MR

Question 8

Cultural relativism views?

Answer 8

1. Different societies have different moral codes.
2. There are no objective universal moral truths.
3. The moral code of a society determines what is right and wrong within that society.
4. There is no objective standard to judge which set of norms is better.
5. Our moral code has no special status.
6. We should adopt an attitude of tolerance towards the practices of other cultures.

Question 9

The Cultural Differences Argument?

Answer 9

(1)Different cultures have different moral codes.
(2) Therefore, there is no objective truth in morality. Right and wrong are only matters of opinion.
Problem? (1) concerns what people believe, whereas (2) concerns what is (or is not) the case.

Question 10

Rachels accuses proponents of the Cultural Differences argument (the anthropological argument) of offering an invalid argument.

Answer 10

she rejects MD—>MR

Question 11

The abductive argument for moral relativism:

Answer 11

1. MD
2. What best explains MD is MR.
3. So, MR.

Question 12

The consequences of taking moral relativism seriously?

Answer 12

(a) We could no longer assess, from a moral point of view, the practices and customs of other societies.
(b) We could decide whether actions are right or wrong just be consulting the standards of our society.
(c) The ideas of moral progress and moral reform are called into doubt.

Question 13

Why think MD is true?

Answer 13

• MD is a claim about the difference in values between societies.

Question 14

Why do we think that there are such differences?

Answer 14

• customs differ from one society to the next. So we explain the difference in customs in terms of a difference in values.

Question 15

Reason to doubt the extent of cultural relativism?

Answer 15

• because all cultures have some values in common

Question 16

What can we learn from descriptive relativism (DR)?

Answer 16

(1) DR warns us of the dangers of assuming that all of our preferences are based on some absolute and universal standard.
(2) (2) DR reminds us to keep an open mind.

Question 17

ARGUMENT FOR MORAL RELATIVISM?