Absolutism vs

Questions and Answers

The situation, culture, or views of the community

Socially approved habits

Morality is absolute and universal

It lacks flexibility and does not account for diverse situations Signup and view all the answers

They adhere to a set of absolute moral principles dictated by a single deity Signup and view all the answers

Forms or ideas, which were the true reality Signup and view all the answers

Good, bad, right and wrong relate to real, independent and absolute values Signup and view all the answers

There is a right course of action that is true for all time, in all places and for all situations Signup and view all the answers

The right course of action depends on the circumstances, culture, or the individual situation Signup and view all the answers

In relation to the individual; it is subjective or relative Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Relativism posits that concepts of good, bad, right, and wrong are dependent on cultural, societal, or individual contexts rather than universal standards.
Cultural relativism views moral rules as constructs shaped by societies rather than objective truths, emphasizing diversity in moral perspectives.

Absolutists believe in universal moral truths that apply to all individuals, regardless of context or circumstance.
A main weakness of absolutism is its failure to accommodate cultural differences, which can lead to rigidity and potentially unjust conclusions.

Monotheists might be seen as ethical absolutists because they often derive moral standards from divine commandments considered universally applicable.
Plato theorized the existence of transcendent Forms or Ideas, suggesting that ultimate truths and moral realities exist in a realm beyond ordinary perception.

When absolutists declare something is good, they imply its inherent quality that is universally applicable and not subject to personal or cultural interpretation.
Absolute morality reflects the belief in objective moral standards that are fixed and unchanging, while relative morality contends that moral judgments are influenced by situational factors and cultural contexts.

According to Protagoras, goodness is situated within human perception, suggesting that individual perspectives shape moral understanding and that “man is the measure of all things.”