Moral Statements are Relative
There are others who believe that moral statements are relative to the individual. They think that individual circumstances, cultures, times and places have different perspectives and views on various moral situations.
For an example, in strict Islamic countries it is right for women to cover themselves up, whereas in a Western country it is right for women to expose themselves more.
Relativists think that whereas one person may have one view on a situation, another person might have another view, and although their views are different, they are both right and neither are wrong.
The subject of euthanasia provokes conflicting views. The view of an absolutist would be that they think that euthanasia is inherently wrong and that death should be unaided all the time and there must be no exceptions to this rule. They would think that euthanasia is wrong and that it must not be tolerated or carried out in any circumstance. A relativist would say that just because they think that euthanasia is wrong does not mean that others think the same and will carry out their lives based on your beliefs. They know that different people will react differently to different circumstances and that although one thing might be right for one person, it can be wrong for another.
Another form of relativism is cultural relativism. This is where that in one culture certain activities would be socially condemned, whereas in another they would be praised.
For example, in some countries polygamy is not only praised but necessary, whereas in countries such as England, polygamy is illegal and only monogamy is carried out.
Relativists such as J.L. Mackie believes that “there are no objective values” and he thinks the fact that there have been so many different views and values in different times, places, cultures and countries that one set of morals cannot possibly exist and is shown through this.
Strengths and Weaknesses of Absolutisms and Relativism
As with all views, there are both strengths and weaknesses to each one. Absolutism has obvious weaknesses in the fact that not every situation is going to be perceived the same way as others, and that conflicting views cannot make up a set of moral truths.
One of the strengths of absolutism is that it gives some definite guidelines for key moral issues such as murder, rape and torture. You can say that a relativist view would not be appropriate when it comes to issues like these, because some individuals might think that it is up to them to decided whether they think murder is right or wrong, and if they think it is right, that would mean that society would have people going around murdering people because they thought that it would be ok for them to do so.
Absolutism gives a solution to problems like this by re-enforcing their rules with the law, by saying that murder is innately wrong and people who murder will be incarcerated.
Relativism is not without its weaknesses either. Cultural relativism is unable to disparage any moral procedures because if society allows and supports it, then it is acceptable. Also, by having the belief that differing moral codes should all be supported was adopted universally, relativism itself would become an absolute moral code.
Relativists have no firm guidelines of what is socially acceptable and morally right and from this anarchy and chaos could ensue and then relativism could turn into anarchism.
For and Against Absolutism
The biggest argument for absolutism is there is one rule for all, no exceptions and everyone knows their place. They maintain that some things are intrinsically right and other things are intrinsically wrong, and that these things are fixed for all time and all people and no one is exceptional.
Absolutism means that there is no double standards, no unfairness from circumstances and there are moral codes which are set in stone in reinforced. An absolute set of moral truths cannot be determined by humans as human society is always changing and therefore so will be their perceptions on moral situations.
The biggest argument for relativism is that it seems to be the most lenient and least extreme way of dealing with certain issues. Relativists live in a more tolerant society and it is in these circumstances that all types of people can live together and get on with each other. Relativists understand an absolutist’s point of view, but have a different one themselves and make judgements based on individual circumstances and their own personal moral compass.
This means that no one gets unfairly pigeon-holed and treated the same as someone from a completely different background. Relativists understand that because everyone is unique, so are their moral truths.
