Absolute and Relative Morality

1
Absolute and Relative Morality

• Year 12

2
Aims

• By the end of this lesson you will know the
  difference between absolute and relative morality
• You will be able to recognise key scholars for
  each viewpoint, and match them to their beliefs

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So what is a relativist?

• A relativist approach says, in effect, that no
  two situations are exactly the same. A persons
  choices will be related to a quite unique set of
  circumstances, and it makes no sense to
  generalise or to say that one view is right and
  another wrong.
• There are no fixed objective moral reality or
  if there is, it cant be discovered
• Decisions are not related to anything absolute,
  and it therefore makes no sense to try and
  discover any moral rules.

4
..and an Absolutist?

• An ethical absolute is a moral command or
  prohibition that is true for all time, in all
  places and in all situations. Absolutists hold
  that some things are wrong from objective point
  of view, not just from your or my perspective.
• Immoral acts are intrinsically wrong, ie wrong in
  themselves. The situation or result they cause
  are irrelevant, an act is wrong if it breaks a
  moral rule.

5
I am totally faithful to my boyfriend, whether
hes there or not it wouldnt be right
otherwise....
When Im out with the girls I have fun what my
boyfriend doesnt know wont hurt him....
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Task

• Look at the following scholars all have either
  absolute or relativist views.
• You need to match together the photo, name and
  quote on your worksheets, then identify whether
  they are absolute or relative from their
  statements.
• Enjoy cutting and sticking!

7
Aristotle
There are no universal forms beyond this world
forms are in the world and therefore not
absolute. Moral behaviour should be a midway
approach between two extremes human
circumstances are infinite and it is not possible
to have a general rule which will cover every
situation. Moral rules hold for the most part but
there are times when they wont. Aristotle
8
Protagoras
There is no truth in anything beyond the way it
seems. There is no objective knowledge, because
all knowledge depends upon the perceptions of the
person. Theres no objective truth. Truth is only
true for you, or true for me. Man is the measure
of all things. Protagoras
9
Jeremy Bentham
The principle of utility aims to promote
happiness which is the supreme ethical value.
Nature has placed us under the governance of two
sovereign masters, pain and pleasure. An act is
right if it delivers more pleasure than pain, and
wrong if it brings about more pain than
pleasure. Bentham
10
St Thomas Aquinas
We were all made by God with a shared human
purpose this leads to a set of rules that people
have a duty to follow. These rules are
absolutist, because they know of no exception.
For example, using contraception to prevent
conception is absolutely wrong, regardless of
consequences such as the spread of AIDS, unwanted
pregnancies etc. Aquinas
11
Plato
Moral absolutes such as goodness and justice
really exist, beyond our normal perceptions of
the world. This other world is inhabited by forms
or ideas, which are the true reality. What we
perceive around us is a shadow of this truth.
Plato
12
Joseph Fletcher
Each individual situation is different and
absolute rules are too demanding and restrictive.
The Bible shows what good moral decisions look
like in particular situations, but it is not
possible to know what Gods will is in every
situation therefore love or agape is the only
moral rule. Fletcher
13
Kant
The consequences of our actions are irrelevant to
whether they are right or wrong - evil actions
may have unintended good consequences, and
someone might act heroically without any
guarantee that the consequences will be good. No
character quality is absolutely good (good
without exception) - for example, it is possible
to act kindly but do the wrong thing. The only
good thing is a good will that does what is
logically the right thing to do. Kant
14
J S Mill
The Greatest Happiness principle holds that
actions are right in proportion as they tend to
produce happiness, wrong as they tend to produce
the reverse of happiness. By happiness is
intended pleasure, and the absence of pain by
unhappiness, pain and the privation of pleasure.
Quality should be considered as well as quantity.
Mill
15
Pope Benedict XVI
Scripture is important but doesnt give guidance
on many important matters so tradition is also
important, as interpreted by the magisterium.
Following Aquinas, reason is used as a tool for
showing that certain acts are intrinsically right
or wrong as they go against our true purpose
certain absolutes, such as the sanctity of life,
cannot be changed by the circumstances. Pope