| A | B |
|---|
| cultural relativism | the theory that different societies or cultures have different moral codes; this is a descriptive theory |
| ethical relativism | the theory that there is no universal moral code; whatever the majority of a particular society or culture considers is morally right is morally right for that culture; this is a normative theory |
| an advantage of ethical relativism | it fosters tolerance |
| two disadvantages of ethical relativism | 1) No one can protest against horrible actions if the majority of a society approves of it; and 2) there is no basis for improving ethical codes of a culture |
| The article "Trying Out One's New Sword" | makes an argument against moral isolationism (which goes along with ethical relativism) |
| moral isolationism | Maintains that we can never know a culture well enough to make any judgments/evaluations of it, either positively or negatively |
| Midgely's criticism of moral isolationism | If we cannot make judgments/assessments of other cultures, we also cannot make any of our own; then no moral progress is possible |
| ethical absolutism | there exist ethical principles that hold across time and different cultures |
| a weakness of ethical absolutism | it can foster intolerance |
| a strength of ethical absolutism | some horrible things are accepted as wrong at all times, such as murder, slavery, and rape |
| One key component of ethical relativism is that no moral principles can be said to apply to all cultures; another component is that | the majority of the people of a culture determine what's right and wrong for that culture |
| In ethics/philosophy, making a "judgment" does not mean __________ or negative regarding others | being judgmental |
| Ethical relativism cannot condemn the following actions if the majority of people approve of them | slavery, genital mutilation |
| Ethical absolutism | Can condemn slavery and genital mutilation even if the majority of a culture approve of them |
| One cannot argue for social change, to have the majority change its opinion using this ethical framework | ethical relativism |
| A person can argue to change a majority opinion by appealing to.... | ethical absolutes |
| An ethical absolutist could say that torturing an innocent person to death is always .... | wrong |
| An objection to moral absolutism is that | violating principles can cause guilt |
| Pain can be good if it causes a person to seek help from a doctor; similarily | guilt can be good if it causes a person to avoid doing unethical actions |
| Objectors to ethical relativism would say that societies where the majority approves of genocide are inferior to those where the majority ________ minority groups | respects |
| The terms "ethical" or "moral" relativism refers to the idea that relativism is good or right | No |
| "Ethical" or "moral" relativism refers to the idea that such relativism has to do with the field of ethics | Yes |
