Lecture Notes: Introduction to Ethics

Definition of Ethics

• Ethics is the study of right and wrong.
• It is not about studying opinions but determining what is truly right or wrong.
• Ethics seeks the objective truths in morality.

Cultural and Moral Relativism

Key Concepts

• Cultural Relativism: Right and wrong depend on culture.
• Moral Relativism: Right and wrong depend on perspective or culture.
• Metaethics: Branch of ethics that deals with the nature of morality.
  • Tries to answer questions like "What is morality?" and "Is morality objective?"

Moral Realism vs Anti-Realism

• Moral Realism: There are mind-independent facts about ethics.
• Moral Anti-Realism: No mind-independent facts about morality; morality is relative or constructed.

Types of Relativism

Descriptive Relativism

• Moralities and ethical codes vary across cultures.
• This is considered a sociological fact.

Metaethical Relativism

• Moral truths are true relative to specific groups.
• No universal moral truths beyond cultures.

Normative Relativism

• Cultures shouldn't judge others' ethical codes as inferior.
• This approach is viewed as a moral code itself.

Challenges of Moral Relativism

Problem of Moral Diversity

• Moral disagreement exists in the world.
• Realism vs Anti-realism provides explanations.
  • Moral realists might argue that disagreements are factual, not moral.
  • Relativists argue moral diversity undercuts moral objectivity.

Objections to Moral Relativism

1. Relative to Whom?
   • Difficulty in defining what constitutes a "culture" for moral relativism.
2. Some Things Just Seem Wrong
   • Reductio ad absurdum: If no objective morals exist, some practices (e.g., widow burning) could be seen as acceptable.
3. Relativism and Tolerance
   • Promoting tolerance suggests a universal value, contradicting relativism.
4. No Room for Social Reform or Progress
   • Without objective morals, the concept of societal progress or reform is problematic.

Conclusion

• Relativism faces many serious objections.
• Author argues against relativism, stating ethical theories should be objective to account for social reform, tolerance, and moral truths.

Final Thought

• Serious flaws in relativism question its ability to explain morality.