Ethics

1
Ethics

• Ethical Absolutism one set of moral values
  applies to all people and cultures

Plato

• Cultural Relativism Moral values are relative
  to ones culture there are no universally
  held values

Sextus Empiricus
Montaigne

• Moral Skepticism there are no known absolute
  moral values we endorse moral values simply
  because they are ours

J L Mackie
2
Objections to Ethical Relativism (the belief that
no values ought to be applied to all)
James Rachels
(Naturalistic Fallacy)

• The existence of moral differences does not
  justify them (is does not imply ought)
• We would have to tolerate cruel cultures but
• Relativism allows for no moral progress
• In fact, there are universal moral values that
  are simply interpreted differently in cultures