Absolute and Relative Morality

A set of flashcards covering the "moral absolutism and moral relativism" section of the OCR AS Religious Ethics specification.

NOTE: For more information on the strengths and weaknesses of relativism, see my table on it here.

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Define relativism
Nothing is objectively right/wrong - depends on culture, situation, etc.
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Define subjectivism
Each person's values = relative to themselves, can't be objectively judged.
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Define cultural relativism
All values of a culture = relative to them, can't be criticised by others.
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Define diversity thesis
B/c of diversity across cultures, there's no one true morality
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What quote from Protagoras supports relativism, and why?
"Man is the measure of all things" - shows that each person can tell by themselves what's right/wrong
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Give three strengths of relativism.
No God (accesible to atheists), in line w/ how world works (differing opinions), greather understanding of other cultures
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Give three weaknesses of relativism.
Can't criticise things like Holocaust + drug abuse due to different attitudes, slippery slope, morality as social niciety
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Define absolute morality
A moral rule that is always true in all situations for everyone.
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Three absolutism strengths
Fixed code, allows for cultures to criticise each other, fits with universal laws e.g human rights
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Three absolutism weaknesses
Doesn't consider consequences, doesn't allow cultural diversity, doesn't allow lesser evil, what is absolute morality?
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What is divine command theory?
God establishes the eternal principle.
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What is the Euthypro Dilemma?
Does good exist because God approves of it, or independent of divine approval?
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What happens if good and God are the same?
Anything God says = good, incl human sacrifice. God = dictator.
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What happens if good and God are seperate?
God didn't create good - not omnipotent, inconsistent triad
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Each person's values = relative to themselves, can't be objectively judged.

Back

Define subjectivism

Card 3

Front

All values of a culture = relative to them, can't be criticised by others.

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

B/c of diversity across cultures, there's no one true morality

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

"Man is the measure of all things" - shows that each person can tell by themselves what's right/wrong

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
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