Timmons

Question 1

Three arguments against cultural relativism

Answer 1

• moral relativism
  1.If cultural moral relativism is true, then the actions portrayed in these scenarios would be morally right if they were permitted by a culture’s moral code
  2. Such actions could never be morally right even if they were permitted by a culture’s moral code
  3. Moral relativism is false
• Genuine disagreement
  1. If moral relativism is true, then many seeming genuine moral disagreements turn out not to be genuine moral disagreements; the disputants are just talking past one another
  2. However, those disagreements are often genuine; the disputants aren’t just talking past one another
  3. Moral relativism is false
• moral reformer
  1. If moral relativism is true, then anytime someone disagrees with the moral norms of her culture, she is necessarily mistaken
  2. It is possible for a member of a culture to be correct in objecting to some of the moral norms and associated practices of her culture; such a person is not necessarily mistaken
  3. Moral relativism is false

Question 2

The context sensitivity thesis

Answer 2

What is right or wrong for a person to do depends at least in part on the non-moral facts that are obtained in that circumstance.
Ex. Saving a baby in the lake and you can swim