Chapter 2: Ethical Relativism

1. Chapter 2: Ethical Relativism • What is Ethical Relativism? - No objective right or wrong - Compared to objectivism • Two Forms of Ethical Relativism • Individual Ethical Relativism • Cultural Ethical Relativism

2. Chapter 2 continued • Reasons Supporting Ethical Relativism • The diversity of moral views • Moral Uncertainty • Situational differences

3. Chapter 2 continued • Are These Reasons Convincing? • The Diversity of Moral Views • How widespread and deep is the disagreement? • What does such disagreement prove? • Moral Uncertainty – the complexity and difficulty - The view of skepticism - The form of subjectivism

4. Chapter 2 continued • Situational differences • Absolutism – rules with no exceptions • The expression of relativism • Challenges for relativism and nonrelativism • The reflection of society’s views • The view of personal experience • The implied beliefs about tolerance

5. Chapter 2 continued • Moral Realism • Realism – the view of the relation between science and nature • Are moral properties supervenient? • Moral Pluralism • Is there one good moral principle or a variety of equally moral principles?

6. Chapter 2 continued • Reading: Trying Out One’s New Sword • Moral isolationism in practice • The symbolism of the Samurai sword • The liability of the isolating barriers between cultures • The effect of moral isolationism on moral reasoning

7. Chapter 2 continued • Reading: Master and Slave Moralities • Master moralities - Description of “good” and “bad” - The noble type of person feels himself as a determining value • Slave moralities - Description of “good” and “evil” - The longing for freedom