StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...

Morality is Not Relative - Research Paper Example

Cite this document
Summary
Date: Morality is Not Relative Social diversity and dynamism embraces morality in different ways. In the view of these differences, morality can be referred to as habits that are socially approved (Pojman 406)…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER94.8% of users find it useful
Morality is Not Relative
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Morality is Not Relative"

Download file to see previous pages

Moral definition by a society is highly dependent on the perception, attitudes and preferences of a society in the day to day interactions of people that make up that society. According to James Rachels, morality is not relative. Morality and resultant issues can be looked from different points of view. Rachels is well aware of this fact. In his discussion, cultural relativism is considered, alongside moral absolutism. The idea here is to point out the shortcomings associated with cultural relativism in the subject matter; morality.

Use of real life examples enhances Rachels’ ideas, bringing out the natural and social picture that is easily applicable to societies. This is easy to understand and relate with, given the activities that define a given society. A good example used is that of infants and the explanation of how the society would fail to support itself following a cultural relativism application in that society. Specifically, people are socially responsible for bringing up infants under the best available conditions.

If such social responsibilities were not a central focus of the society, then the survival of the infants could be threatened (Pojman 411). On the same note, the society regenerates itself through reproduction, replacing the dead with the newborns. Such a social activity occurs generally without the imposition of rules to govern it. This is evidenced by the fact that a society that would chose not to replace their dead is not by rules fixed to that. However, social responsibility has it that the society should ensure its continuity.

This way, even without rules to govern how infants are brought up, the society does its best to ensure that infants survive and the society ensures its presence over generations. There exists a universal interconnectedness of societies around the world. Universally accepted orders that define the differences between and among societies have been found to link these societies. Societal differences may not be of the magnitude that is thought to exist. Rachels notes this and provides examples that show evidence of this claim.

The example used relate to a society that fails to eat cows while another does, due to various reasons known to these societies (Pojman 410). This is just but example in numerous social contexts around the world. Different societies fail to do something based on reasons unique to them. However, the fail-to-practice code of one society is practice code for another, portraying just how much societies are connected universally. Fixed lifestyles that do not uphold this factor are presented by cultural relativism.

Moral absolutism plays a fundamental role in assessing social interconnectedness. Societies are characterized by both rights and wrongs. In other words, different societies accept the fact that there exits both right and wrong between and among social interactions. However, what is considered right by one society is not necessarily right to other societies. Right and wrongdoings are confined to a specific societal definition by a particular society. On the same note, one society can make strong grounds that another society is right in doing something, while others may refute the right to constitute a wrong.

Although morality is defined uniquely by the concept of right and wrong from one society to another, there are instances that stand out to interest all societies in being within the norms or against such norms. Such an instance is that given by Rachels about

...Download file to see next pages Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Morality is Not Relative Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words”, n.d.)
Morality is Not Relative Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/philosophy/1441885-morality-is-not-relative
(Morality Is Not Relative Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words)
Morality Is Not Relative Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words. https://studentshare.org/philosophy/1441885-morality-is-not-relative.
“Morality Is Not Relative Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/philosophy/1441885-morality-is-not-relative.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Morality is Not Relative

The Morality of Divorce

This paper ''The morality of Divorce'' tells that The morality of divorce is often called into question in Christianity, though through a closer examination, it could be said that the morality of divorce will not be a determining factor that will influence the judgment of the Christian God on whether....
8 Pages (2000 words) Research Paper

The Moral and Ethical Decline in the United States

One holds that morality is relative – the other holds that Morality is Not Relative.... This is dangerous thinking, because life without God is morally relative; which means that people can do practically whatever they want and not feel guilty about it.... This worldview does not allow for the existence of God, therefore man is left to construct morality for himself in order to establish civilized, ethical culture and society.... In this way, these two opposing worldviews have two opposing positions on the nature of ethics and morality....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

Prostitution: The Case for Legalization

This paper "Prostitution: The Case for Legalization" discusses prostitution that is essentially a victimless crime singled out for the wrath of moral dictators who, citing the evils done to its practitioners and patrons alike, have convinced an entire society and legal system to keep it hidden.... hellip; No one ever speaks of marriage in the same context: as a woman essentially selling herself for life to another human being—sexual relations included, a profound “duty” in the marriage relationship....
8 Pages (2000 words) Case Study

Morality Is Relative to Ones Socio-Cultural and Religious Paradigms and Needs to Be Perceived Objectively

"morality is Relative to One's Socio-Cultural and Religious Paradigms and Needs to Be Perceived Objectively" paper states that the relative objectivity of morally and ethically right actions broadly caters to the fact that the end justifies the means if the actions are able to generate happiness.... Indeed, broader ramifications of one's morality and ethical behavior are significantly influenced by his socio-religious compulsions.... Thus, morality becomes a highly debatable and objective issue within the field of philosophy that is interpreted and rationalized differently by different individuals....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

Video response on training day

he concept of “street justice” relative to the ethical framework of relativismEthical relativism infers the theory that asserts that morality is relative to the norms of one's culture, meaning that whether an action is right or wrong hinges on the prevailing moral norms within the society (Banks, 2004).... The paper explores the film relative to the ethical framework of relativism and legal moralism.... he concept of “street justice” seen relative to legal moralismDefenders of legal moralism assert that governments also manifest an unchained right to enforce harmless immoralities....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Determinants of Child Mortality: Role of Poverty & Policy

The paper "Determinants of Child Mortality: Role of Poverty & Policy" discusses that reducing child mortality is one of the eight goals of the UN for the current millennium.... Reducing poverty is also one of the eight goals.... It is a typical view that poverty is a fundamental root of child mortality....
8 Pages (2000 words) Research Proposal

Relation between Morality and Dharma

hellip; morality is the differentiation of decisions, and intentions between the ones that are right or good, and the ones that are wrong or bad.... morality is also defined as conformity to the right conduct rules.... A morality is indifference toward, disbelief in, or unawareness of a given set of principles or moral standards.... As the opposite of morality is immorality, the opposite of dharma is adharma that is generally a behavior, which is opposed to someone's dharma....
7 Pages (1750 words) Report

Principles of Morality in Relation to The Stranger by Albert Camus

Additionally, society is uncertain whether morality is achieved by a finer internal sense or an immediate feeling, like all comprehensive judgment of falsehood and truth (Genovese 172).... That morality is original and founded on sense full reason and judgment (Camus and Matthew 121).... Genovese (183) outlines that, the principles of morality differ among different cultures, and some are relative that is, they are dependent situations and context....
6 Pages (1500 words) Book Report/Review
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us