Homework answers / question archive / Please discuss the topic Subjective Relativism which is an epistemological issue

Please discuss the topic Subjective Relativism which is an epistemological issue

Writing

Share With

---

Please discuss the topic Subjective Relativism which is an epistemological issue. Question: What's wrong with being a subjective relativist, in your view?

Please read the chapter two information on subjective relativism and watch the video. Attached you will find some additional information on this topic that addresses the related Ethical Relativism issue. Be sure to understand the distinction between them. We will return to this topic later on in Chapter 11.Create your post and respond to two classmates.

Ethical Relativism problem

EthicsDefinition: The study of character, morals, human conduct, and human values, right and wrong.

1.  Ethical Relativism: An individual prescriptive or descriptive stance regarding the theory that there are no morally binding universal standards for all peoples. Descriptive=and empirical study. Normative=what ought to be or what we should do.

2.  Cultural Relativism: A descriptive or prescriptive stance regarding the relativity of values in cultures.

3.  Both 1 and 2 are in contradistinction to Ethical Objectivism.

4.  Ethical Objectivism: One or more moral principles are objectively binding on all peoples. A normative stance (i.e. implies obligation).

5.  Ethical Absolutism: When a theory admits of no exceptions (i.e. “an exceptionless command” such as Kant’s Categorical Imperative).

6.  “Although all ethical absolutists are ethical objectivists, not all ethical objectivists are ethical absolutists.

Ethical objectivists believe that universal moral principles exist but that many of these principles allow for exceptions.”( see p.215)

Five Problems with Ethical Relativism

a)  Ethical Relativism in no way guarantees tolerance; rather, each individual society decides arbitrarily what it wants to be tolerant about.

b)  Ethical Relativism can justify brutal and inhumane actions.

c)  There is at least one universal moral principle that can be found.

d)  Genuine moral progress requires a transcultural moral standard, but ethical relativism rules out there being such a standard, and so cannot account for the moral progress that has in fact taken place.

e)  If we leave decisions of right and wrong up to the majority of each society, then on issues for which the vote is close, the rightness of an action, such as capital punishment, could vary from day to day.

Stewart Kelly, Thinking Well, an Introduction to Critical Thinking, (Mayfield Publishing Co., 2001), pp. 207-218.

Also, I need response to this student please

Subjective relativism is the action of something being approved by one person, but it may be disapproved by another. Not everyone will agree and approve of behavior at the same time, at the space place. Every person has their own beliefs and morality of what they believe is right. We can not impose what we believe on what others believe in. Each individual has a different morality and most do not have the same rightness from wrong actions. For example, in the video, the speaker states, " people say everything is relative, even truth..." This inference is wrong because truth to an individual might not be true for another.

In my opinion, it is not best to be a subjective relativist because every individual has their own beliefs and what they think is right or wrong. Not everyone is going to like being told something is one way or the other. Something I feel is right of doing; another individual might find it is a bad idea.

and this one too

Ethics is concerned with the definition of deciding what is good or bad and morally right or wrong. Subjective relativism holds the idea that an individual chooses to what is right or wrong for themselves. It is based on the notion that what is right for a particular individual may not be right for another person. Therefore, each individual decides what is right for them and what is wrong. For example, abortion might be the right thing to do for a specific person and wrong for someone else. An individual is in charge of their values which vary from one person to another. There is no concept of moral principle is subjective relativism, and each behavior and action is based on an individual's desire.

I believe that subjective relativism is wrong because it gives individuals room to claim that their actions are morally right if they approve of it, regardless of the harm it might have on others. This would mean that even in the most severe cases of an evil action, there are no universal concepts of wrong or right. Also, I believe that subjective relativism is wrong because each person would have their own rules that might distort society's peace. This lacks a concept of the guiding principles of right and wrong. Molarity guides people on what is wrong and right and what characters an individual is supposed to develop, and which characters not to create. Subjective relativism denies culture and society the right to decide what is right or wrong. In deciding on any moral opinion, each person is capable of being in error. Therefore, subjective relativism is wrong because whatever individuals think is right for them cannot be suitable for the entire population.