Ethical Relativism

Author : Carol Rovane
Publisher : Harvard University Press
Page : 274 pages
File Size : 46,9 Mb
Release : 2013-12-16
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9780674726970

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The Metaphysics and Ethics of Relativism by Carol Rovane Pdf

Relativism is a hotly contested doctrine among philosophers, some of whom regard it as neither true nor false but simply incoherent. As Carol Rovane demonstrates in this analytical tour-de-force, the way to defend relativism is not initially by establishing its truth but by clarifying its content. The Metaphysics and Ethics of Relativism elaborates a doctrine of relativism that has a consistent logical, metaphysical, and practical significance. Relativism is worth debating, Rovane contends, because it bears directly on the moral choices we make in our lives. Three intuitive conceptions of relativism have been influential in philosophical discourse. These include the idea that certain unavoidable disagreements are irresolvable, leading to the conclusion that "both sides are right," and the idea that truth is always relative to context. But the most compelling, Rovane maintains, is the "alternatives intuition." Alternatives are truths that cannot be embraced together because they are not universal. Something other than logical contradiction excludes them. When this is so, logical relations no longer hold among all truth-value-bearers. Some truths will be irreconcilable between individuals even though they are valid in themselves. The practical consequence is that some forms of interpersonal engagement are confined within definite boundaries, and one has no choice but to view what lies beyond those boundaries with what Rovane calls "epistemic indifference." In a very real sense, some people inhabit different worlds--true in themselves, but closed off to belief from those who hold irreducibly incompatible truths.

Author : Neil Levy
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
Page : 256 pages
File Size : 47,5 Mb
Release : 2014-10-01
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9781780744544

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Moral Relativism by Neil Levy Pdf

On September 11 2001, thousands of people died in the attacks on the United States. How could the terrorists justify these acts? A young man kills his sister to protect his family's honour. How could this be 'right' These are just some of the questions tackled by Neil Levy in an incisive and elegant guide to the philosophy of moral relativism - the idea that concepts of 'rightness' and 'wrongness' vary from culture to culture, and that there is no such thing as an absolute moral code. Opening with a comprehensive definition of this controversial theory, the book examines all the arguments for and against moral relativism, from its implications for ethics to the role of human biology and the difficulty of separating cultural values from innate behaviour

Author : Mohammad A. Shomali
Publisher : Saqi Books
Page : 256 pages
File Size : 49,5 Mb
Release : 2001-01-01
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 1904063004

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Ethical Relativism by Mohammad A. Shomali Pdf

Today the issue of relativism is not only an academic subject, it has become a vital concern in sociology and politics, along with the issue of globalisation. This book studies ethical relativism in its most profound and recent forms, and argues that a non-relativist account of morality is capable of validating our moral experiences without undesirable implications. The author demonstrates that unlike during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, support for ethical relativism is now in decline. He proposes that the most promising strategy is first to settle the issue of the foundations of morality, and then to develop a new theory of morality based on self-love, moral ideas and the process of decision-making. This book brings a fresh perspective to the on-going debate on post-modernism and relativism, and should be of interest to all who study philosophy, theology and cultural studies, and those interested in spirituality.

Author : Paul K. Moser,Thomas L. Carson
Publisher : Oxford University Press, USA
Page : 337 pages
File Size : 55,5 Mb
Release : 2001
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 0195131304

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Moral Relativism by Paul K. Moser,Thomas L. Carson Pdf

This volume is devoted solely to the topic of moral relativism. The 19 contemporary selections are nontechnical and fall under five main headings which include general issues of moral relativism, moral diversity, the coherence of moral relativism, and relativism, realism, and rationality.

Author : John Ladd
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 164 pages
File Size : 41,8 Mb
Release : 1973
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : STANFORD:36105036721863

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Ethical Relativism by John Ladd Pdf

Author : Edward Westermarck
Publisher : DigiCat
Page : 262 pages
File Size : 48,5 Mb
Release : 2022-11-22
Category : History
ISBN : EAN:8596547423911

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Ethical Relativity by Edward Westermarck Pdf

In this book, Edward Westermarck grounds ethics in the biological underpinnings of emotion and makes arguments for both psychological and ethical relativism. According to Westermarck, conventional moral judgments are based on moral sentiments, which are neutral moral feelings. Because moral standards are rooted in emotion, Westermarck concludes that they cannot be objective.

Author : David B Wong
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 312 pages
File Size : 55,9 Mb
Release : 2009-03-03
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 0199724849

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Natural Moralities by David B Wong Pdf

In this book, David B. Wong defends an ambitious and important new version of moral relativism. He does not espouse the type of relativism that says anything goes, but he does start with a relativist stance against alternative theories such that there need not be only one universal truth. Wong proposes that there can be a plurality of true moralities existing across different traditions and cultures, all with one core human question as to how we can all live together.

Author : Saral Jhingran
Publisher : Motilal Banarsidass Publishe
Page : 404 pages
File Size : 41,5 Mb
Release : 2001
Category : Ethical relativism
ISBN : 8120818202

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Ethical Relativism and Universalism by Saral Jhingran Pdf

The present work addresses itself to one of the most hotly debated issues in contemporary ethics-relativism. Relativism has become a formidable argument in Western socio-moral thought under the impact of postmodern writings. The author presents a detailed critique of various relativist and postmodernist theses, without rejecting some of their empirically justified observations. She underscores the fact that the intercultural communication which has been going on since time immemorial puts a question mark to the postmodernist theories of indeterminacy of translation, incommensurability of various conceptual frameworks etc. The author supports cognitivism in ethics according to which the moral properties of the object of moral judgement do in some way determine or `cause` that judgment. This view is not to be confused with any realist ontological commitment. She asserts that universalizability is the necessary condition of all rational judgments, including the moral ones. The author also discusses the relationship between self and others; and in this context she draws upon the insights of ancient Indian thinkers. She proposes that minimum moral principles and maxims can be agreed upon through reasoning and intercultural discourse.

Author : James Kellenberger
Publisher : Penn State Press
Page : 252 pages
File Size : 48,6 Mb
Release : 2010-11-01
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 0271039418

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Moral Relativism, Moral Diversity, and Human Relationships by James Kellenberger Pdf

This book aims to clarify the debate between moral relativists and moral absolutists by showing what is right and what is wrong about each of these positions, by revealing how the phenomenon of moral diversity is connected with moral relativism, and by arguing for the importance of relationships between persons as key to reaching a satisfactory understanding of the issues involved in the debate.

Author : Samuel Fleischacker
Publisher : BRILL
Page : 280 pages
File Size : 54,6 Mb
Release : 1992-01-01
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9004095268

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Integrity and Moral Relativism by Samuel Fleischacker Pdf

"Integrity and Moral Relativism" draws on literary, philosophical and historical resources to demonstrate how Western society can use its own traditions to distinguish legitimate from illegitimate cross-cultural judgement, and legitimate from illegitimate cultural self-criticism. As long as there is a language for these possibilities, the book argues, an individual can see ethics as culturally based without compromising his or her own integrity.

Author : Maria Baghramian,Annalisa Coliva
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 326 pages
File Size : 42,5 Mb
Release : 2019-09-30
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9781000691108

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Relativism by Maria Baghramian,Annalisa Coliva Pdf

Relativism, an ancient philosophical doctrine, is once again a topic of heated debate. In this book, Maria Baghramian and Annalisa Coliva present the recent arguments for and against various forms of relativism. The first two chapters introduce the conceptual and historical contours of relativism. These are followed by critical investigations of relativism about truth, conceptual relativism, epistemic relativism, and moral relativism. The concluding chapter asks whether it is possible to make sense of relativism as a philosophical thesis. The book introduces readers to the main types of relativism and the arguments in their favor. It also goes beyond the expository material to engage in more detailed critical responses to the key positions and authors under discussion. Including chapter summaries, suggestions for further reading, and a glossary, Relativism is essential reading for students of philosophy as well as those in related disciplines where relativism is studied, such as anthropology, sociology, and politics.

Author : Ruth Macklin
Publisher : Oxford University Press, USA
Page : 310 pages
File Size : 51,7 Mb
Release : 1999
Category : Medical
ISBN : 0195116321

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Against Relativism by Ruth Macklin Pdf

This book analyzes the debate surrounding cultural diversity and its implications for ethics. If ethics are relative to particular cultures or societies, then it is not possible to hold that there are any fundamental human rights. The author examines the role of cultural tradition, often used as a defense against critical ethical judgments, and explores key issues in health and medicine in the context of cultural diversity: the physician-patient relationship, disclosing a diagnosis of a fatal illness, informed consent, brain death and organ transplantation, rituals surrounding birth and death, female genital mutilation, sex selection of offspring, fertility regulation, and biomedical research involving human subjects. Among the conclusions the author reaches are that ethical universals exist but must not be confused with ethical absolutes. The existence of ethical universals is compatible with a variety of culturally relative interpretations, and some rights related to medicine and health care should be considered human rights. Illustrative examples are drawn from the author's experiences serving on international ethical review committees and her travels to countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, where she conducted educational workshops and carried out her own research.

Author : Heimir Giersson,Margaret Holmgren
Publisher : Broadview Press
Page : 406 pages
File Size : 40,8 Mb
Release : 2000-06-28
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 1551112922

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Ethical Theory by Heimir Giersson,Margaret Holmgren Pdf

This anthology is designed for use as a brief introduction to ethical theory. Included are sections on various forms of ethical theory: Ethical Relativism; Divine Command Theory; Egoism; Consequentialism; Deontology; Justice; Virtue Ethics; and Feminist Ethics. Each section includes two or three of the most important and interesting contributions to the field, together with brief introductions by the editors. A final section, Theories in Practice, consists of five selections on the issues of abortion, world poverty, and affirmative action.

Author : Mark Dimmock,Andrew Fisher
Publisher : Open Book Publishers
Page : 262 pages
File Size : 55,9 Mb
Release : 2017-07-31
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9781783743919

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Ethics for A-Level by Mark Dimmock,Andrew Fisher Pdf

What does pleasure have to do with morality? What role, if any, should intuition have in the formation of moral theory? If something is ‘simulated’, can it be immoral? This accessible and wide-ranging textbook explores these questions and many more. Key ideas in the fields of normative ethics, metaethics and applied ethics are explained rigorously and systematically, with a vivid writing style that enlivens the topics with energy and wit. Individual theories are discussed in detail in the first part of the book, before these positions are applied to a wide range of contemporary situations including business ethics, sexual ethics, and the acceptability of eating animals. A wealth of real-life examples, set out with depth and care, illuminate the complexities of different ethical approaches while conveying their modern-day relevance. This concise and highly engaging resource is tailored to the Ethics components of AQA Philosophy and OCR Religious Studies, with a clear and practical layout that includes end-of-chapter summaries, key terms, and common mistakes to avoid. It should also be of practical use for those teaching Philosophy as part of the International Baccalaureate. Ethics for A-Level is of particular value to students and teachers, but Fisher and Dimmock’s precise and scholarly approach will appeal to anyone seeking a rigorous and lively introduction to the challenging subject of ethics. Tailored to the Ethics components of AQA Philosophy and OCR Religious Studies.

Author : Michele M. Moody-Adams
Publisher : Harvard University Press
Page : 276 pages
File Size : 45,5 Mb
Release : 2009-06-01
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 0674041194

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Fieldwork in Familiar Places by Michele M. Moody-Adams Pdf

The persistence of deep moral disagreements--across cultures as well as within them--has created widespread skepticism about the objectivity of morality. Moral relativism, moral pessimism, and the denigration of ethics in comparison with science are the results. Fieldwork in Familiar Places challenges the misconceptions about morality, culture, and objectivity that support these skepticisms, to show that we can take moral disagreement seriously and yet retain our aspirations for moral objectivity. Michele Moody-Adams critically scrutinizes the anthropological evidence commonly used to support moral relativism. Drawing on extensive knowledge of the relevant anthropological literature, she dismantles the mystical conceptions of culture that underwrite relativism. She demonstrates that cultures are not hermetically sealed from each other, but are rather the product of eclectic mixtures and borrowings rich with contradictions and possibilities for change. The internal complexity of cultures is not only crucial for cultural survival, but will always thwart relativist efforts to confine moral judgments to a single culture. Fieldwork in Familiar Places will forever change the way we think about relativism: anthropologists, psychologists, historians, and philosophers alike will be forced to reconsider many of their theoretical presuppositions. Moody-Adams also challenges the notion that ethics is methodologically deficient because it does not meet standards set by natural science. She contends that ethics is an interpretive enterprise, not a failed naturalistic one: genuine ethical inquiry, including philosophical ethics, is a species of interpretive ethnography. We have reason for moral optimism, Moody-Adams argues. Even the most serious moral disagreements take place against a background of moral agreement, and thus genuine ethical inquiry will be fieldwork in familiar places. Philosophers can contribute to this enterprise, she believes, if they return to a Socratic conception of themselves as members of a rich and complex community of moral inquirers.