[HUM103: ETHICS & CULTURE]

[Mid-term essay submission]

Name: Shuvro Kamol Roy

ID: 22204011
Section: 19
shuvro.kamol.roy@g.bracu.ac.bd
 Difference between Iseme and Antigone

Relativism

● Truth and morality depends on personal or cultural perspectives.

● It can vary between individuals and cultures

● Depends on the situation

● Subjective
Absolutism

● Universal truths and moral principles that apply to everyone remain

absolute, regardless of personal beliefs or cultural differences.

● Objective

Deontologist

● Focuses whether an action is right or wrong, regardless of the

consequences.

● They follow specific rules and duties.

Consequentialist

● Cares about the consequences of an action

● Aims for the best overall outcome

Abstract

In the midst of Thebes post war chaos, Sophocles' timeless tragedy Antigone explores the

struggle between personal conviction and governmental authority. Antigone, sister to soldiers'

Eteocles and Polyneices, honors her disgraced brother by defying king creon's order and burying

Polyneices. Creon , unwilling to compromise his order, condemned Antigone to pay with her

life. Diving into complex human dilemmas 'antigone' explores the ethical dimensions of justice,

authority and loyalty as characters make choices with consequences that may be tragic. This

timeless play reveals the tensions between personal morality and the demands of the state,

showcasing the repercussions of sticking to unwavering principles.

Antigone displayed defiance through her actions. She didn't care about the consequences that she

knew would come after performing her burial rituals for her brother. Antigone's bravery shone

through as she stood up for her beliefs, even in the face of a ruling from the king. According to

Antigone's beliefs her family's values surpassed any laws. She showed relativism not absolutism

since her boldness made her an icon for standing up for one's beliefs, regarding what the society

says.

With her bold and defiant nature, Antigone sharply differs from Ismene, holding a belief in a

moral duty that goes beyond human laws.

Polyneices, Antigone's brother, was given a decree by King Creon that he should not be buried.

However, Antigone was brave enough to go against this authority and bury her brother herself,

even though it could mean risking her life.

Authority figures are respected by Ismene, as she embodies both caution and obedience. Rather

than defying the king's orders, she is hesitant to go against societal norms.

In Ismene's understanding, women were restricted in their society, so she commented about not

arguing with men. She recognized the possible repercussions of opposing the prevailing power.

The potential for negative outcomes concerns her deeply as she contemplates the practical

implications of contesting Creon's decree and the prevailing power dynamics.

When tackling moral issues, Carol Gilligan believes that men and women tend to have

distinctive perspectives.According to her, women prioritize relationships and compassion when

making ethical judgments, whereas men may tend to emphasize rules and principles.This

deviates from past theories, which centered solely on men and assumed that everyone adopts an

identical moral framework.It's not a matter of establishing a right or wrong approach, but rather
acknowledging the various methods people take when faced with moral dilemmas.Encouraging a

broader understanding of how people think about right and wrong can be important in education

and ethics.

In my school days a group of boys did some serious misconduct and getting expelled from

school forever was inevitable. Ronald sir, head of the disciplinary committee gave them no

choice but to leave the school. Our O- Level exams were just in two days and the registration

dates were over, therefore getting expelled from the school at that time was devastating.

But when they were taken to our Principal, Sister Asha, upon making many requests and

apologies she granted them permission just to attend their examinations, after that they had to

leave and eventually pursue their A-levels from another institution. She really showed

compassion because she saw expelling them at that moment would be very costly as they would

miss the exam and had to wait for another whole year in order to give their O-levels.

King Creon's decision to forbid the mourning of Polyneices in Antigone illustrates more of a

deontological point of view.This means that it focuses on compliance with established rules and

laws and emphasizes the importance of government authority.Creon strictly adheres to his

decrees and punishes those who disobey him without regard to the consequences.This reflects a

belief in the inherent nature of rules, which is characteristic of deontology.

Relativism:

Strengths: Acknowledges cultural diversity and individual differences. Allows flexibility in

making moral judgments based on context.

Concern: May lead to moral subjectivity, whereby any behavior consistent with personal or

cultural beliefs can be considered acceptable. Questions may be raised about the universality of

human rights.

Absolutism:

Strengths: Provides a clear and firm ethical framework. An idea that represents universal moral

principles that apply to all peoples and cultures.

Concern: May be criticized for being rigid and unable to accommodate different cultural

perspectives. It is possible to impose certain values ​on everyone.

The choice between these views is often influenced by one's moral, cultural or religious beliefs.

I stand in the middle ground, adopting a position known as "moderate absolutism" or

"pluralism" that recognizes the existence of some universal principles while allowing for cultural

differences in others.

According to my point of view the judgment of right and wrong of any individual/community

should be based on relativism.

I would like to give an example of relativism from Mahabharata. Mahabharata is an ancient

Indian epic that is considered as one of the most important works of Indian literature. It includes

complex and multilayered text that teaches us a wide range of themes, including morality, ethics

and spirituality. The main theme of Mahabharata is the concept of dharma, which means

‘righteousness’ or ‘duty’.

One of the prime examples regarding relativism in Mahabharata is when Yudhisthira is faced

with a moral dilemma when he was asked to lie in order to protect his brothers. Yudhishtira is

one of the main characters of Mahabharata who was known for his commitment to truth, honesty

and righteousness no matter what happens. He never lied. But in this case he was forced to

choose, leaving him with no option. Either to tell the truth or to lie in order to protect his family.

Ultimately Yudhisthira chose to lie which was a violation of his own moral code. But in this case

he believed that lying was the right thing to do according to the circumstances.
To conclude, Sophocles' tragedy "Antigone" accurately depicts the complexity of moral

decision-making through the contrasting perspectives of the two sisters, Antigone and Ismene.

Ismene's warning about women avoiding conflict with men demonstrates the traditional nature of

gender roles, while Antigone's audacious defiance of society and the pursuit of higher morality

highlights the individual's responsibility.

Carol Gilligan's statement about gender differences in the way she perceives morality finds

parallels in the characters' differing approaches. Antigone's dedication to family and the context

of her actions concur with a care-oriented and context-dependent moral philosophy, while

Ismene's adherence to societal conventions may be indicative of a more rule-based or

duty-oriented approach. The king's prohibition of mourning for Polyneices is primarily based on

deontology, which involves following the rules and maintaining social order, despite the

consequences.

Regarding the distinction of right and wrong, the interaction between absolutism and relativism

is apparent. Through a complex tapestry of moral dilemmas and conflicting perspectives, the

story "Antigone" invites deep reflection on ethics, gender, and the interplay between absolutism

and relativism in human morality.

References:

Carol Gilligan: Gilligan's Theory of Moral Development (verywellmind.com)

The story of Yudhisthira (Dharmaraja) | Mahabharata Stories, Summary and Characters from

Mahabharata (mahabharataonline.com)