Absolutism & Relativism
- Created by: B.S
- Created on: 12-05-14 15:04
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- Absolutism & Relativism
- Moral Absolutism
- moral commands are true at all times
- certain things (murder) are objectively right or wrong
- actions like murder are intrinsically wrong so they are wrong in themselves.
- This approach to ethics is simple and easy to apply.
- moral absolutism is classed as deontological as the consequences are not considered.
- the sources of these absolute moral laws are different according to belief
- Divine Command Theory
- The ten commandments are seen as absolute rules that are set by God himself
- The divine command theory is came from this understanding: something is good because God commands it.
- From this P.O.V morals are God given and God would not command anyone to do bad as he is Omnibenevolent.
- However God commands Abraham to kill Isaac and Joshua to kill everyone in Jericho. does this make God immoral
- Does God have anything to do with morality?
- Plato addressed this in the Euthyphro Dilemma when Socrates say "is what is pious loved by the gods, or is it pious because it is loved"
- God gave us free will therefore its up to us to work out what is right and wrong.
- Cultural Relativism
- This approach to ethics suggests that moral laws differ from society to society
- there is so much diversity between and across cultures there is no way a moral law can be universalised to suit all
- moral values change over time and morality depends on the changes in culture and society's as it depends on what is right for that culture at that time
- moral relativism is tolerant and respectful of different society's
- allows people to make their own moral decisions
- moral relativism doesn't allow the condemnation of evil actions: Genocide
- Moral Absolutism
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