Ethical Relativism

Definition

Ethical relativism is the view that moral principles and values are relative to the individual, culture, or society, rather than being absolute or universal. It holds that what is considered right or wrong can vary depending on the context and the perspectives of those involved.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Ethical relativism challenges the idea of universal moral principles, arguing that what is considered ethical can vary across different cultures and individuals.
2. Proponents of ethical relativism believe that moral judgments should be based on the context and the perspectives of those involved, rather than on a set of absolute moral standards.
3. Ethical relativism can lead to the acceptance of practices that may be considered unethical by other cultures or societies, such as female genital mutilation or child marriage.
4. Ethical relativism has been criticized for potentially leading to moral nihilism, where there are no objective moral truths and anything is permissible.
5. Ethical relativism is often contrasted with moral absolutism, which holds that there are universal moral principles that apply to all people, regardless of their cultural or individual beliefs.

Review Questions

• Explain how ethical relativism challenges the idea of universal moral principles.
  • Ethical relativism challenges the notion of universal moral principles by arguing that what is considered right or wrong can vary depending on the individual, culture, or society. It holds that moral judgments are not based on a set of absolute standards, but rather on the context and perspectives of those involved. This contrasts with moral absolutism, which believes in universal moral truths that apply to all people regardless of their cultural or individual beliefs.
• Describe how ethical relativism can lead to the acceptance of practices that may be considered unethical by other cultures or societies.
  • Ethical relativism can lead to the acceptance of practices that may be considered unethical by other cultures or societies. This is because ethical relativism holds that moral judgments are based on the context and perspectives of those involved, rather than on a set of universal moral standards. As a result, practices that may be seen as unethical by one culture, such as female genital mutilation or child marriage, may be accepted and considered ethical within another cultural context. This can pose challenges in a globalized world where different cultures and societies interact with one another.
• Analyze the potential consequences of adopting an ethical relativist perspective in the context of business ethics.
  • Adopting an ethical relativist perspective in the context of business ethics can have significant consequences. If businesses operate under the assumption that moral principles are relative to the individual or culture, it could lead to the acceptance of unethical practices that prioritize profit over ethical considerations. This could include engaging in bribery, exploiting workers, or disregarding environmental regulations in certain cultural contexts. Furthermore, ethical relativism could undermine the development of universal business ethics standards and make it difficult to hold companies accountable for unethical conduct. Ultimately, a rigid adherence to ethical relativism in the business world could erode public trust and undermine the long-term sustainability and reputation of organizations.

Related terms

Moral Absolutism: The belief that there are universal, objective moral standards that apply to all people, regardless of individual or cultural differences.

Cultural Relativism: The principle that an individual's beliefs and activities should be understood in terms of their own culture, rather than being judged by the standards of another culture.

Moral Subjectivism: The view that moral judgments are based on individual preferences, emotions, or personal opinions, rather than on objective moral facts.