TYPES OF MORAL SUBJECTIVISM

Simple Subjectivism: the view (largely as described above) that ethical statements reflect sentiments,
personal preferences and feelings rather than objective facts.

Individualist Subjectivism: the view (originally put forward by Protagoras) that there are as many distinct
scales of good and evil as there are individuals in the world. It is effectively a form of Egoism, which
maintains that every human being ought to pursue what is in his or her self-interest exclusively.

Moral Relativism

Moral relativism is the idea that there is no universal or absolute set of moral principles. It’s a version of
morality that advocates “to each her own,” and those who follow it say, “Who am I to judge?”

Ideal Observer Theory: the view that what is right is determined by the attitudes that a hypothetical
ideal observer (a being who is perfectly rational, imaginative and informed) would have.

Ethical egoism is the normative ethical position that moral agents ought to act in their own self-interest.

Utilitarianism is a theory that promotes actions that maximize happiness and well-being for the majority
of a population.

Deontology is an ethical theory that uses rules to distinguish right from wrong. Deontology is often
associated with philosopher Immanuel Kant. Kant believed that ethical actions follow universal moral
laws, such as “Don’t lie. Don’t steal. Don’t cheat.”

Virtue ethics is a philosophy developed by Aristotle and other ancient Greeks. It is the quest to
understand and live a life of moral character. This character-based approach to morality assumes that we
acquire virtue through practice.