moral relativism
Context determines right
Moral relativism is the view that ethical standards are not universal but vary by culture, society, or individual.
What counts as right or wrong depends on context rather than absolute principles: Moral relativism suggests we can't judge other cultures by our own standards.
Critics argue it undermines the basis for condemning practices like slavery or genocide.
The position is often contrasted with moral absolutism.
Belief truth is personal
- objectivismBelief in external truths
- universalismDoctrine of total reconciliation
- absolutismUnrestricted governmental authority
- nihilismRejection of objective meaning
cognitivism · constructivism · descriptivism · prescriptivism · contextualism · particularism · antirealism · naturalism
Coexistence of differing views
- acceptanceConsent to receive
- open-mindednessAcceptance of differing viewpoints
- nonjudgmentalNot forming harsh opinions
- coexistenceSimultaneous presence together
respect · inclusivity · empathy · understanding · broad-mindedness · neutrality · impartiality · permissiveness
Principles held worthwhile
- normsExpected behavioral standards
- principlesFoundational moral beliefs
- virtueMoral goodness or merit
- conductManner of behaving
duty · justice · fairness · right · wrong · good · evil · ought
Belief one's culture superior
- multiculturalismCoexistence of diverse traditions
- anthropologyStudy of human cultures
- ethnographySystematic study of peoples
- customsTraditional practices or import taxes
taboos · norms · traditions · worldview · folkways · diversity · cultural identity · social construct
Prolonged public disagreement
- disagreementAbsence of shared opinion
- criticismJudgment of faults
- objectionExpression of disapproval
- dilemmaForced choice between undesirables
dialogue · discourse · polemic · dialectic · contradiction · skepticism · dogmatism · reasoning
subjectivism
Belief truth is personal
- objectivismBelief in external truths
- universalismDoctrine of total reconciliation
- absolutismUnrestricted governmental authority
nihilism · cognitivism · constructivism · descriptivism · prescriptivism · contextualism · particularism · antirealism · naturalism · intuitionism
pluralism
Coexistence of differing views
- acceptanceConsent to receive
- open-mindednessAcceptance of differing viewpoints
- nonjudgmentalNot forming harsh opinions
coexistence · respect · inclusivity · empathy · understanding · broad-mindedness · neutrality · impartiality · permissiveness · forbearance
values
Principles held worthwhile
- normsExpected behavioral standards
- principlesFoundational moral beliefs
- virtueMoral goodness or merit
conduct · duty · justice · fairness · right · wrong · good · evil · ought · conscience
ethnocentrism
Belief one's culture superior
- multiculturalismCoexistence of diverse traditions
- anthropologyStudy of human cultures
- ethnographySystematic study of peoples
customs · taboos · norms · traditions · worldview · folkways · diversity · cultural identity · social construct · heritage
controversy
Prolonged public disagreement
- disagreementAbsence of shared opinion
- criticismJudgment of faults
- objectionExpression of disapproval
dilemma · dialogue · discourse · polemic · dialectic · contradiction · skepticism · dogmatism · reasoning · rationale
- ismscapitalism, socialism, communism, anarchism, racism
- philosophical questionsmeaning of life, free will, why are we here, nature of reality, ethics
- philosophiesempiricism, stoicism, nihilism, idealism, materialism
- philosophyethics, logic, metaphysics, ontology, epistemology
- religious ethicsChristian ethics, divine command, divine law, love thy neighbor, sacred law
- metaethicsnon-cognitivism, cognitivism, prescriptivism, externalism, open question
moral relativismdeontology
Morality based on obligations
categorical imperative · Ten Commandments · natural law · Sharia
moral relativismmoral rigidity
Unwavering ethical strictness
fundamentalism · judgmentalism · cultural imperialism · ethnocentrism · moralizing
moral, immoral, relative, morality, morals, mores, relatively, amoral, immorality