Ethical theories

Absolutist and relativist morality:

Moral absolutism: objective, deontological. Absolute rules that always apply. Actions are right/wrong intrinsically. Consequences and circumstances have no bearing. Moral commands are considered objectively and morally true

E.g. Kant, Natural Law

Strengths of Absolutism:

♥Need for universal truth that transcends cultures/history

♥Universal/unchanging principles e.g. Don't Murder. There is a need to set absolutes applying to all regardless of culture, religion, etc.

♥Fixed ethical code and can support universal laws such as the United Nations declaration for human rights

Weaknesses of Absolutism:

♦Rigid

♦Cannot consider circumstance/consequences of an action, for example is it wrong to steal if you are poor over stealing when you are rich/not in need?

♦Seems intolerant of cultural diversity and need to accommodate different lifestyles

♦How do we know what absolute morals are, as all sources of morality are open to human interpretation?

Moral relativism: no absolute principles applying. Moral truth varies according to culture, time, place and religion. There is no fixes morality and morals are subjective. Human situations vary so much that isn't not possible to have one moral rule.Teleological and subjective. Consequentialism, e.g. Utilitarianism

Strengths of Relativism:

♥Allows for diversity in the world we see

♥Understands life isn't "black and white"; we are emotive creatures

♥Allow for acceptance and understanding between different peoples

Weaknesses of Relativism:

♦No real evaluation/criticism of practices such as slavery, the Holocaust, torture of innocent

♦Does not allow societies to progress (realization slavery was unacceptable was slow to develop).

♦Gives little reason for behaving morally except to be socially acceptable.It reduces the meaning of what is ‘good’ to ‘what is socially acceptable’.

♦Some statements are true absolutely e.g. it is wrong to torture innocent people. Just because cultures vary, it doesn't mean there is no objective "good"

♦Just because there are different moral views, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are all of equal value, e.g. the Nazis. Cultural Relativists would not be able to criticise the Nazis as they believe that all cultures have views of equal worth.