Ethical

Relativism
by: Jhoncar & Jhon Demver
Right or Wrong (identify)
1.Marriage at the very early age

2. Saying that our life in city is better than that of the B’laans

3.Eskimo Practice (abandoning old folks in the snow and allowing them
to die)

4. Americans trying to civilize the Native Indians

5. Polygamy for Muslims

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Ethical Relativism
-Is an ethical theory that considers the goodness or
wrongness of an act as dependent on the given culture
or individual.
-Every cultural principle is always moral.

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Ruth Benedict(1887- 1948)
She is an American anthropologist known as defender of
ethical relativism. She establishes herserlf as an advocate of
cultural and moral tolerance, implying that Western
civilization has no right to impose its codes of conduct to
other culture.
A CODE OF CONDUCT is a set of Rules outlining the social
norms, religious rules and responsibilities of, and or proper
practices for, an individual.

MORAL CODE is a set of rules or guidelines that a person or

group follows in order to live a just and good life.

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Cultural Relativist
-sees the cultural differences and described
them
- Sees the cultural differences and make
judgement

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“

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“
What are the two
types of ethical
relativism?

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 Ethical Principles
A. Right or Good
B. Wrong or Bad

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A. Right or Good
Is ethical relativism and always relative to a
particular culture or society.
Moral opinion of one individual is as good as
any other.

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Ethical Relativism emphasizes the ff:
▰ Different societies have different moral codes
▰ There is no objective standard that can be used to judge one
societal code better than the other
▰ The moral code of our own society has no special status; it
is merely one among the many
▰ There is no “universal truth” in ethics
▰ The moral code of the society determines what is right
within that society
▰ It is mere arrogance for us to try to judge the conduct of
other people.

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Examples of moral practices
▰ Eskimo Practice
▰ The obligation to marry your brother’s widow for the early
Israelites
▰ Kill twins at birth or offering virgins in the worship of
volcanoes
▰ Marry at the very early age in some oriental cultures
▰ Indians who eat the bodies of their enemies in order to share
their fighting spirit
▰ Polygamy for Muslims
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B. Wrong or Bad
▰ Wrongness or badness of an act under Ethical Relativism is
also relative or dependent on the given culture or society
▰ If the society or culture dictates that an act or practice is
wrong, then it is indeed wrong.

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It is wrong or bad to commit the ff.
▰ Applying an absolute or universal ethical principle
▰ Judging one society by an objective standard, hence, using it in
identifying a societal code as better than the other
▰ Considering one’s culture as superior from the others (Western Culture
as superior)

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Example of a wrong act
▰ American trying to civilize the Native
Indians
▰ Judging cannibalism as bad and inhuman
▰ Judging Muslim polygamy as bad view of a
Christian perspective
▰ Saying that our lifestyle in the city is better
than to the B’laans

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Always remember!!

“WHEN YOU JUDGE

ANOTHER, YOU DO NOT
DEFINE THEM, YOU
DEFINE YOURSELF”

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What are the arguments
against Ethical Relativism?

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Sources?

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