Cultural RelativismCultural Relativism Return to Arguments Arguments from Intuition Strong and Weak...

Cultural Relativism

Cultural RelativismPHIL 1104: Philosophy and Social Ethics

Nathan Kellen

University of Connecticut

January 29th, 2015

Cultural Relativism

Table of Contents

Return to ArgumentsArguments from Intuition

What is Cultural Relativism?

Objections to CR/EP

Cultural Relativism

Return to Arguments

Arguments from Intuition

What Are Arguments from Intuition?

The last type of arguments we’re going to talk about in this course arearguments from intuition. Philosophers often appeal to intuitions thatpeople have, either about scenarios or about language, to support theircase.

An argument from intuition is when we consult our intuitions, i.e. ourthoughts about something before theorising about it, to see what theysay.

We will consult these intuitions to talk about problem cases with ourtheory itself, rather than to determine what is right or wrong.

Cultural Relativism

Return to Arguments

Arguments from Intuition

What Are Arguments from Intuition?

The last type of arguments we’re going to talk about in this course arearguments from intuition. Philosophers often appeal to intuitions thatpeople have, either about scenarios or about language, to support theircase.

An argument from intuition is when we consult our intuitions, i.e. ourthoughts about something before theorising about it, to see what theysay.

We will consult these intuitions to talk about problem cases with ourtheory itself, rather than to determine what is right or wrong.

Cultural Relativism

Return to Arguments

Arguments from Intuition

What Are Arguments from Intuition?

The last type of arguments we’re going to talk about in this course arearguments from intuition. Philosophers often appeal to intuitions thatpeople have, either about scenarios or about language, to support theircase.

An argument from intuition is when we consult our intuitions, i.e. ourthoughts about something before theorising about it, to see what theysay.

We will consult these intuitions to talk about problem cases with ourtheory itself, rather than to determine what is right or wrong.

Cultural Relativism

Return to Arguments

Arguments from Intuition

Strong and Weak Intuitions

Our intuitions will come in much stronger and weaker forms. Forexample, the following is a strong intuition that almost everyone has:

I Murder is morally wrong.

While this is a much weaker intuition that people have (if they have it atall!):

I You ought to kill one person to save two others.

Cultural Relativism

Return to Arguments

Arguments from Intuition

Strong and Weak Intuitions

Our intuitions will come in much stronger and weaker forms. Forexample, the following is a strong intuition that almost everyone has:

I Murder is morally wrong.

While this is a much weaker intuition that people have (if they have it atall!):

I You ought to kill one person to save two others.

Cultural Relativism

Return to Arguments

Arguments from Intuition

Strong and Weak Intuitions

Our intuitions will come in much stronger and weaker forms. Forexample, the following is a strong intuition that almost everyone has:

I Murder is morally wrong.

While this is a much weaker intuition that people have (if they have it atall!):

I You ought to kill one person to save two others.

Cultural Relativism

Return to Arguments

Arguments from Intuition

Strong and Weak Intuitions

Our intuitions will come in much stronger and weaker forms. Forexample, the following is a strong intuition that almost everyone has:

I Murder is morally wrong.

While this is a much weaker intuition that people have (if they have it atall!):

I You ought to kill one person to save two others.

Cultural Relativism

Return to Arguments

Arguments from Intuition

Strong and Weak Intuitions

Our intuitions will come in much stronger and weaker forms. Forexample, the following is a strong intuition that almost everyone has:

I Murder is morally wrong.

While this is a much weaker intuition that people have (if they have it atall!):

I You ought to kill one person to save two others.

Cultural Relativism

Return to Arguments

Arguments from Intuition

Strong and Weak Intuitions

When our theory delivers surprising results, we should consult ourintuitions to see whether this is a serious problem for the theory. If it is,we should drop the theory in favour of something else.

Two cases we will consider in Section II of this course are:

I It is always wrong to lie.

I You should kill one person to save five others.

Examining our intuitions is not an easy task, and it’s often difficult to saywhether an intuition is so fundamental that we ought not give it up.When in doubt, it’s often best to assume that the intuition can beoverriden.

This process of bringing our theoretical results in line with our intuitionsis known as reflective equilibrium and is one of the strongest tools intheory-choice.

Cultural Relativism

Return to Arguments

Arguments from Intuition

Strong and Weak Intuitions

When our theory delivers surprising results, we should consult ourintuitions to see whether this is a serious problem for the theory. If it is,we should drop the theory in favour of something else.

Two cases we will consider in Section II of this course are:

I It is always wrong to lie.

I You should kill one person to save five others.

Examining our intuitions is not an easy task, and it’s often difficult to saywhether an intuition is so fundamental that we ought not give it up.When in doubt, it’s often best to assume that the intuition can beoverriden.

This process of bringing our theoretical results in line with our intuitionsis known as reflective equilibrium and is one of the strongest tools intheory-choice.

Cultural Relativism

Return to Arguments

Arguments from Intuition

Strong and Weak Intuitions

When our theory delivers surprising results, we should consult ourintuitions to see whether this is a serious problem for the theory. If it is,we should drop the theory in favour of something else.

Two cases we will consider in Section II of this course are:

I It is always wrong to lie.

I You should kill one person to save five others.

Examining our intuitions is not an easy task, and it’s often difficult to saywhether an intuition is so fundamental that we ought not give it up.When in doubt, it’s often best to assume that the intuition can beoverriden.

This process of bringing our theoretical results in line with our intuitionsis known as reflective equilibrium and is one of the strongest tools intheory-choice.

Cultural Relativism

Return to Arguments

Arguments from Intuition

Strong and Weak Intuitions

When our theory delivers surprising results, we should consult ourintuitions to see whether this is a serious problem for the theory. If it is,we should drop the theory in favour of something else.

Two cases we will consider in Section II of this course are:

I It is always wrong to lie.

I You should kill one person to save five others.

Examining our intuitions is not an easy task, and it’s often difficult to saywhether an intuition is so fundamental that we ought not give it up.When in doubt, it’s often best to assume that the intuition can beoverriden.

This process of bringing our theoretical results in line with our intuitionsis known as reflective equilibrium and is one of the strongest tools intheory-choice.

Cultural Relativism

Return to Arguments

Arguments from Intuition

Intuition Pumps

Another way in which philosophers use intuitions is in intuition pumps.An intuition pump is a “thought experiment” which we use to help usfind answers to problems.

In using intuition pumps we attempt to dig up our intuitions in certaincases by eliminating unnecessary information. Once we have theintuitions we can then use them in the sense outlined above.

It’s worth noting that some intuition pumps are illicit and some find themethodology itself to be worthless. We will use it occasionally, but itmust not be relied upon.

Cultural Relativism

Return to Arguments

Arguments from Intuition

Intuition Pumps

Another way in which philosophers use intuitions is in intuition pumps.An intuition pump is a “thought experiment” which we use to help usfind answers to problems.

In using intuition pumps we attempt to dig up our intuitions in certaincases by eliminating unnecessary information. Once we have theintuitions we can then use them in the sense outlined above.

It’s worth noting that some intuition pumps are illicit and some find themethodology itself to be worthless. We will use it occasionally, but itmust not be relied upon.

Cultural Relativism

What is Cultural Relativism?

Cultural Relativism

Cultural relativism, simply put, is the view that “good” and “bad” (andother moral terms) are relative to culture.

That is, whether something is morally right or morally wrong depends on(is relativised to) some culture.

Cultural Relativism

What is Cultural Relativism?

Cultural Relativism

Cultural relativism, simply put, is the view that “good” and “bad” (andother moral terms) are relative to culture.

That is, whether something is morally right or morally wrong depends on(is relativised to) some culture.

Cultural Relativism

What is Cultural Relativism?

Cultural vs Indexical Relativism

Cultural relativism is a type of moral relativism. Moral relativism is theview that morality depends on (is relativised to) something. Thus CR is atype of MR, as it relativises morality to cultures.

Of course, one might relativise morality to something else. The standardalternative to CR is often called indexical relativism. IR holds thatmorality is relativised to individuals.

Indexical relativism is so called because it relativises morality ala indexicalsentences, e.g. “I am here”.

Cultural Relativism

What is Cultural Relativism?

Cultural vs Indexical Relativism

Cultural relativism is a type of moral relativism. Moral relativism is theview that morality depends on (is relativised to) something. Thus CR is atype of MR, as it relativises morality to cultures.

Of course, one might relativise morality to something else. The standardalternative to CR is often called indexical relativism. IR holds thatmorality is relativised to individuals.

Indexical relativism is so called because it relativises morality ala indexicalsentences, e.g. “I am here”.

Cultural Relativism

What is Cultural Relativism?

Cultural vs Indexical Relativism

Cultural relativism is a type of moral relativism. Moral relativism is theview that morality depends on (is relativised to) something. Thus CR is atype of MR, as it relativises morality to cultures.

Of course, one might relativise morality to something else. The standardalternative to CR is often called indexical relativism. IR holds thatmorality is relativised to individuals.

Indexical relativism is so called because it relativises morality ala indexicalsentences, e.g. “I am here”.

Cultural Relativism

What is Cultural Relativism?

Relativism vs Nihilism

Although CR denies that morality is “objective” (whatever that means),it doesn’t deny that there are moral truths. This is important to see.

Consider the statement “Murder is wrong”. Is this true, according to CR?

The nihilist claims that the above statement is false simpliciter - falseeverywhere. It’s not just that its truth depends on something else, e.g.cultures or individuals, it just plain isn’t true.

Cultural Relativism

What is Cultural Relativism?

Relativism vs Nihilism

Although CR denies that morality is “objective” (whatever that means),it doesn’t deny that there are moral truths. This is important to see.

Consider the statement “Murder is wrong”. Is this true, according to CR?

The nihilist claims that the above statement is false simpliciter - falseeverywhere. It’s not just that its truth depends on something else, e.g.cultures or individuals, it just plain isn’t true.

Cultural Relativism

What is Cultural Relativism?

Relativism vs Nihilism

Although CR denies that morality is “objective” (whatever that means),it doesn’t deny that there are moral truths. This is important to see.

Consider the statement “Murder is wrong”. Is this true, according to CR?

The nihilist claims that the above statement is false simpliciter - falseeverywhere. It’s not just that its truth depends on something else, e.g.cultures or individuals, it just plain isn’t true.

Cultural Relativism

What is Cultural Relativism?

Back to CR

So now that we have a rough idea of what CR is and isn’t, let’s define ita bit more thoroughly.

CR is the view that sentences like “ϕ is good” mean “The majority of(the society in question) approves of ϕ”.

In a slogan, CR claims that morality is a cultural construct. Whethersomething is morally wrong depends on a culture.

Cultural Relativism

What is Cultural Relativism?

Back to CR

So now that we have a rough idea of what CR is and isn’t, let’s define ita bit more thoroughly.

CR is the view that sentences like “ϕ is good” mean “The majority of(the society in question) approves of ϕ”.

In a slogan, CR claims that morality is a cultural construct. Whethersomething is morally wrong depends on a culture.

Cultural Relativism

What is Cultural Relativism?

Back to CR

So now that we have a rough idea of what CR is and isn’t, let’s define ita bit more thoroughly.

CR is the view that sentences like “ϕ is good” mean “The majority of(the society in question) approves of ϕ”.

In a slogan, CR claims that morality is a cultural construct. Whethersomething is morally wrong depends on a culture.

Cultural Relativism

What is Cultural Relativism?

Back to CR

So now that we have a rough idea of what CR is and isn’t, let’s define ita bit more thoroughly.

CR is the view that sentences like “ϕ is good” mean “The majority of(the society in question) approves of ϕ”.

In a slogan, CR claims that morality is a cultural construct. Whethersomething is morally wrong depends on a culture.

Cultural Relativism

What is Cultural Relativism?

A Useful Trick

One way of understanding CR is to pull a trick from physics. Thinkabout what happens when you’re discussing simultaneity in physics.When are two events simultaneous?

Two events are simultaneous if they occur at the same time, with respectto the same frame of reference. So E1 is simultaneous with E2 iff theyboth occur at T1 w/r/t F1.

If we wanted, we could pull a similar subscripting trick for moral terms,e.g. “good”.

In general, think about it as goodC; e.g. goodUSA.

Cultural Relativism

What is Cultural Relativism?

A Useful Trick

One way of understanding CR is to pull a trick from physics. Thinkabout what happens when you’re discussing simultaneity in physics.When are two events simultaneous?

Two events are simultaneous if they occur at the same time, with respectto the same frame of reference. So E1 is simultaneous with E2 iff theyboth occur at T1 w/r/t F1.

If we wanted, we could pull a similar subscripting trick for moral terms,e.g. “good”.

In general, think about it as goodC; e.g. goodUSA.

Cultural Relativism

What is Cultural Relativism?

A Useful Trick

One way of understanding CR is to pull a trick from physics. Thinkabout what happens when you’re discussing simultaneity in physics.When are two events simultaneous?

Two events are simultaneous if they occur at the same time, with respectto the same frame of reference. So E1 is simultaneous with E2 iff theyboth occur at T1 w/r/t F1.

If we wanted, we could pull a similar subscripting trick for moral terms,e.g. “good”.

In general, think about it as goodC; e.g. goodUSA.

Cultural Relativism

What is Cultural Relativism?

A Useful Trick

One way of understanding CR is to pull a trick from physics. Thinkabout what happens when you’re discussing simultaneity in physics.When are two events simultaneous?

Two events are simultaneous if they occur at the same time, with respectto the same frame of reference. So E1 is simultaneous with E2 iff theyboth occur at T1 w/r/t F1.

If we wanted, we could pull a similar subscripting trick for moral terms,e.g. “good”.

In general, think about it as goodC; e.g. goodUSA.

Cultural Relativism

What is Cultural Relativism?

Cultural Relativism and Ethical Pluralism

Cultural relativism quickly gives rise to another view - ethical pluralism.Ethical pluralism is the view that there are ≥ 2 equally good moraltheories.

CR leads almost instantaneously to EP because it is a fact about theworld that there are many different (morally nonidentical) cultures.

It’s important to keep these apart though, because it’s possible to be aCR without being an EP. How?

Cultural Relativism

What is Cultural Relativism?

Cultural Relativism and Ethical Pluralism

Cultural relativism quickly gives rise to another view - ethical pluralism.Ethical pluralism is the view that there are ≥ 2 equally good moraltheories.

CR leads almost instantaneously to EP because it is a fact about theworld that there are many different (morally nonidentical) cultures.

It’s important to keep these apart though, because it’s possible to be aCR without being an EP. How?

Cultural Relativism

What is Cultural Relativism?

Cultural Relativism and Ethical Pluralism

Cultural relativism quickly gives rise to another view - ethical pluralism.Ethical pluralism is the view that there are ≥ 2 equally good moraltheories.

CR leads almost instantaneously to EP because it is a fact about theworld that there are many different (morally nonidentical) cultures.

It’s important to keep these apart though, because it’s possible to be aCR without being an EP. How?

Cultural Relativism

What is Cultural Relativism?

Outcomes of Ethical Pluralism

People often argue for CR/EP on the grounds that they better makesense of a number of phenomena. Gensler outlines some of these.

First and foremost, some argue for CR because they cannot make senseof how ethical statements could be true otherwise. If not based inculture, then what?

People often argue that CR/EP are more tolerant - they better makesense of the differences in culture, without presuming ours is better.

Similarly, CR/EP are said to make us more tolerant of dissenting views inour society.

Cultural Relativism

What is Cultural Relativism?

Outcomes of Ethical Pluralism

People often argue for CR/EP on the grounds that they better makesense of a number of phenomena. Gensler outlines some of these.

First and foremost, some argue for CR because they cannot make senseof how ethical statements could be true otherwise. If not based inculture, then what?

People often argue that CR/EP are more tolerant - they better makesense of the differences in culture, without presuming ours is better.

Similarly, CR/EP are said to make us more tolerant of dissenting views inour society.

Cultural Relativism

What is Cultural Relativism?

Outcomes of Ethical Pluralism

People often argue for CR/EP on the grounds that they better makesense of a number of phenomena. Gensler outlines some of these.

First and foremost, some argue for CR because they cannot make senseof how ethical statements could be true otherwise. If not based inculture, then what?

People often argue that CR/EP are more tolerant - they better makesense of the differences in culture, without presuming ours is better.

Similarly, CR/EP are said to make us more tolerant of dissenting views inour society.

Cultural Relativism

What is Cultural Relativism?

Outcomes of Ethical Pluralism

People often argue for CR/EP on the grounds that they better makesense of a number of phenomena. Gensler outlines some of these.

First and foremost, some argue for CR because they cannot make senseof how ethical statements could be true otherwise. If not based inculture, then what?

People often argue that CR/EP are more tolerant - they better makesense of the differences in culture, without presuming ours is better.

Similarly, CR/EP are said to make us more tolerant of dissenting views inour society.

Cultural Relativism

Objections to CR/EP

Objections to CR/EP

So this all sounds well and good, and often sounds like common sense topeople. So what’s the issue?

Gensler raises a number of different issues, so let’s look at those in turn.

Cultural Relativism

Objections to CR/EP

Objections to CR/EP

So this all sounds well and good, and often sounds like common sense topeople. So what’s the issue?

Gensler raises a number of different issues, so let’s look at those in turn.

Cultural Relativism

Objections to CR/EP

Disagreement with Society

Consider the following argument:

1. Drug use is disapproved of by the majority of our society.

2. Therefore drug use is immoral.

According to CR, is this valid? Sound?

Do you disagree?

Cultural Relativism

Objections to CR/EP

Disagreement with Society

Consider the following argument:

1. Drug use is disapproved of by the majority of our society.

2. Therefore drug use is immoral.

According to CR, is this valid? Sound?

Do you disagree?

Cultural Relativism

Objections to CR/EP

Disagreement with Society

Consider the following argument:

1. Drug use is disapproved of by the majority of our society.

2. Therefore drug use is immoral.

According to CR, is this valid? Sound?

Do you disagree?

Cultural Relativism

Objections to CR/EP

Disagreement with Society

Consider the following argument:

1. Drug use is disapproved of by the majority of our society.

2. Therefore drug use is immoral.

According to CR, is this valid? Sound?

Do you disagree?

Cultural Relativism

Objections to CR/EP

Disagreement with Society

Consider the following argument:

1. Drug use is disapproved of by the majority of our society.

2. Therefore drug use is immoral.

According to CR, is this valid? Sound?

Do you disagree?

Cultural Relativism

Objections to CR/EP

Disagreement with Society

Consider the following argument:

1. Drug use is disapproved of by the majority of our society.

2. Therefore drug use is immoral.

According to CR, is this valid? Sound?

Do you disagree?

Cultural Relativism

Objections to CR/EP

Disagreement with Society

According to Gensler, CRs cannot accept CR and at the same timedisagree with the outcome of arguments like the above. Why?

Because this argument generalises, it looks like CR forbids disagreementwith the rest of your society. This seems deeply unintuitive.

Why does that matter?

Cultural Relativism

Objections to CR/EP

Disagreement with Society

According to Gensler, CRs cannot accept CR and at the same timedisagree with the outcome of arguments like the above. Why?

Because this argument generalises, it looks like CR forbids disagreementwith the rest of your society. This seems deeply unintuitive.

Why does that matter?

Cultural Relativism

Objections to CR/EP

Disagreement with Society

According to Gensler, CRs cannot accept CR and at the same timedisagree with the outcome of arguments like the above. Why?

Because this argument generalises, it looks like CR forbids disagreementwith the rest of your society. This seems deeply unintuitive.

Why does that matter?

Cultural Relativism

Objections to CR/EP

Intolerance

Recall that one of the benefits of CR is that it supports tolerance. Butconsider a society, call it Schmaudia Pharabia, which is overwhelminglyintolerant of any society which differs from itself.

What does the CR has to say about this example?

Do you agree with this conclusion? What does it say about CR itself?

Cultural Relativism

Objections to CR/EP

Intolerance

Recall that one of the benefits of CR is that it supports tolerance. Butconsider a society, call it Schmaudia Pharabia, which is overwhelminglyintolerant of any society which differs from itself.

What does the CR has to say about this example?

Do you agree with this conclusion? What does it say about CR itself?

Cultural Relativism

Objections to CR/EP

Intolerance

Recall that one of the benefits of CR is that it supports tolerance. Butconsider a society, call it Schmaudia Pharabia, which is overwhelminglyintolerant of any society which differs from itself.

What does the CR has to say about this example?

Do you agree with this conclusion? What does it say about CR itself?

Cultural Relativism

Objections to CR/EP

Repugnant Conclusions

Consider the types of acts you think are morally reprehensible.

Take for example, female genital mutilation. According to a Nov 2014UNICEF report, 39% of women in sub-Saharan Africa as a whole havebeen affected. Somalia has a 98% rate for women 15-49, while Guineahad a 96% rate. 12 other countries in Africa had a ≥ 50% rate. Overall,125 million women and girls have been subject to FGM.

What does CR say about many of these cases?

Do you agree with this conclusion? What does it say about CR itself?

Cultural Relativism

Objections to CR/EP

Repugnant Conclusions

Consider the types of acts you think are morally reprehensible.

Take for example, female genital mutilation. According to a Nov 2014UNICEF report, 39% of women in sub-Saharan Africa as a whole havebeen affected. Somalia has a 98% rate for women 15-49, while Guineahad a 96% rate. 12 other countries in Africa had a ≥ 50% rate. Overall,125 million women and girls have been subject to FGM.

What does CR say about many of these cases?

Do you agree with this conclusion? What does it say about CR itself?

Cultural Relativism

Objections to CR/EP

Repugnant Conclusions

Consider the types of acts you think are morally reprehensible.

Take for example, female genital mutilation. According to a Nov 2014UNICEF report, 39% of women in sub-Saharan Africa as a whole havebeen affected. Somalia has a 98% rate for women 15-49, while Guineahad a 96% rate. 12 other countries in Africa had a ≥ 50% rate. Overall,125 million women and girls have been subject to FGM.

What does CR say about many of these cases?

Do you agree with this conclusion? What does it say about CR itself?

Cultural Relativism

Objections to CR/EP

Repugnant Conclusions

Consider the types of acts you think are morally reprehensible.

Take for example, female genital mutilation. According to a Nov 2014UNICEF report, 39% of women in sub-Saharan Africa as a whole havebeen affected. Somalia has a 98% rate for women 15-49, while Guineahad a 96% rate. 12 other countries in Africa had a ≥ 50% rate. Overall,125 million women and girls have been subject to FGM.

What does CR say about many of these cases?

Do you agree with this conclusion? What does it say about CR itself?

Cultural Relativism

Objections to CR/EP

Conformity

Gensler accuses CR of promoting conformity. Why?

What does this show us about CR?

Cultural Relativism

Objections to CR/EP

Conformity

Gensler accuses CR of promoting conformity. Why?

What does this show us about CR?

Cultural Relativism

Objections to CR/EP

Specification Problem

CR faces a serious specification problem - it has trouble specifying keytheoretical points.

Consider the following claim: “Murder is wrong”. What do we do todetermine whether this statement is true?

We have to pick out our culture. But what do you mean by society? Doyou mean your neighbourhood? Your nation? Your continent?

These various different options will all likely disagree. That means thatpicking out the right specification is urgent. But can we even do it?

If not, what does that mean for CR?

Cultural Relativism

Objections to CR/EP

Specification Problem

CR faces a serious specification problem - it has trouble specifying keytheoretical points.

Consider the following claim: “Murder is wrong”. What do we do todetermine whether this statement is true?

We have to pick out our culture. But what do you mean by society? Doyou mean your neighbourhood? Your nation? Your continent?

These various different options will all likely disagree. That means thatpicking out the right specification is urgent. But can we even do it?

If not, what does that mean for CR?

Cultural Relativism

Objections to CR/EP

Specification Problem

CR faces a serious specification problem - it has trouble specifying keytheoretical points.

Consider the following claim: “Murder is wrong”. What do we do todetermine whether this statement is true?

We have to pick out our culture. But what do you mean by society? Doyou mean your neighbourhood? Your nation? Your continent?

These various different options will all likely disagree. That means thatpicking out the right specification is urgent. But can we even do it?

If not, what does that mean for CR?

Cultural Relativism

Objections to CR/EP

Specification Problem

CR faces a serious specification problem - it has trouble specifying keytheoretical points.

Consider the following claim: “Murder is wrong”. What do we do todetermine whether this statement is true?

We have to pick out our culture. But what do you mean by society? Doyou mean your neighbourhood? Your nation? Your continent?

These various different options will all likely disagree. That means thatpicking out the right specification is urgent. But can we even do it?

If not, what does that mean for CR?

Cultural Relativism

Objections to CR/EP

Specification Problem

CR faces a serious specification problem - it has trouble specifying keytheoretical points.

Consider the following claim: “Murder is wrong”. What do we do todetermine whether this statement is true?

We have to pick out our culture. But what do you mean by society? Doyou mean your neighbourhood? Your nation? Your continent?

These various different options will all likely disagree. That means thatpicking out the right specification is urgent. But can we even do it?

If not, what does that mean for CR?

Cultural Relativism

The Alternative

What’s the Alternative?

Like we noted earlier, some people believe that CR has to be truebecause they can’t make sense of other ways for moral claims to be true.

Answering this question is the primary goal of metaethics - the study ofethical discourse.

On Tuesday we’ll read an introduction to an attempt to defend a form ofwhat’s called moral realism. Moral realism is the view that there aretrue ethical claims independent of our thoughts, beliefs, etc. about them.

As we’re going to come back to this on Tuesday, let’s end here andconsider Gensler’s arguments alongside Enoch’s.

Cultural Relativism

The Alternative

What’s the Alternative?

Like we noted earlier, some people believe that CR has to be truebecause they can’t make sense of other ways for moral claims to be true.

Answering this question is the primary goal of metaethics - the study ofethical discourse.

On Tuesday we’ll read an introduction to an attempt to defend a form ofwhat’s called moral realism. Moral realism is the view that there aretrue ethical claims independent of our thoughts, beliefs, etc. about them.

As we’re going to come back to this on Tuesday, let’s end here andconsider Gensler’s arguments alongside Enoch’s.

Cultural Relativism

The Alternative

What’s the Alternative?

Like we noted earlier, some people believe that CR has to be truebecause they can’t make sense of other ways for moral claims to be true.

Answering this question is the primary goal of metaethics - the study ofethical discourse.

On Tuesday we’ll read an introduction to an attempt to defend a form ofwhat’s called moral realism. Moral realism is the view that there aretrue ethical claims independent of our thoughts, beliefs, etc. about them.

As we’re going to come back to this on Tuesday, let’s end here andconsider Gensler’s arguments alongside Enoch’s.

Cultural Relativism

The Alternative

What’s the Alternative?

Like we noted earlier, some people believe that CR has to be truebecause they can’t make sense of other ways for moral claims to be true.

Answering this question is the primary goal of metaethics - the study ofethical discourse.

On Tuesday we’ll read an introduction to an attempt to defend a form ofwhat’s called moral realism. Moral realism is the view that there aretrue ethical claims independent of our thoughts, beliefs, etc. about them.

As we’re going to come back to this on Tuesday, let’s end here andconsider Gensler’s arguments alongside Enoch’s.