MORAL

CONFLICTS
AND ETHICAL
RELATIVISM
 Moral conflict is a
An agent cannot moral datum that a
be bound by two theory must
moral The function
requirements of a moral The moral accommodate
theory is to universe is
demonstrate more
how to resolve complicated
moral than many
There cannot be dilemmas. theories
genuinely
acknowledge
irresolvable moral
dilemmas
Can there be unresolvable
moral conflict?
Non – relativistic Irresolvable moral
theories in ethics conflicts lead to
imply that moral some form of
dilemmas are in
relativism.
principle
resolvable

Moral theory and

moral conflict
Immanuel Kant
They express the Suggests the
Conflicts of duties objective possibility of
and obligations are practical a higher point
not conceivable. of view
necessity of (MPV), a
certain actions. court of
arbitration for
The task of moral theory is conflict of
to systematize moral interests.
thought and ultimately
provide rules on principles
for overcoming irreducible
conflicts.
There can be no
irresolvable moral conflicts
Two arguments:

(i) There are (ii) There can be relativized

ultimate moral and non – relativized deontic
standard to resolve axioms and principles; their
moral dilemmas, denial need not imply any
and thus relativism sort of relativism.
is false.
(i) SINGLE – (ii) INTER –
AGENT PERSONAL
DILEMMA Two kinds of CONFLICTS
conflicts: Arise when
A person
ought to do agents
each of two operate the
acts but same
cannot do theory
both.
 HAMPSHIRE
8

ON CONFLICT

There are Our capacity

to conceive of
(i) Moral conflicts variations in diversity is the
are inevitable
cultures and origin of our
ways of life capacity to
envisage
conflicts of
norms and of
those moral
 HAMPSHIRE
Q U A N T I I T E S
P R E S E N T A T I O N

Moral duties and ON CONFLICT

obligations present
themselves as
conflicts.

Appeal to universal
rules or alleged
constancies of
human nature will
not resolve moral
conflicts
 Q U A N T I I T E S
P R E S E N T A T I O N

(ii) Conflicts can be

resolved by a right
ordering of the
contrary tendencies
in human nature.
 TWO TYPES
OF
CONFLICTS:
Local ideals from
Abstract and
NATUR CONVENTION tradition and
timeless ideals convention (give
E
which are natural rise to diversity of
and universal moral requirement

10/22/2022 11
 There can never be
a “best” way of life
or “best” choice,
claims are not valid
Conflicts for all mankind.
that arise
from moral
choices
(ii) It assumes that
humanity is a
consistent moral
unit across time
and space (myth)

(i) It postulates that

there can be Moral philosophy
fundamental becomes harmful
agreement in moral
ideals when:
 HAMPSHIRE’
S VIEW
Some moral conflicts cannot be
01 resolved by any generally
acknowledged method of reasoning

There is no rational path that

leads from conflicts to
02 harmony and to an assured
solution.

They cannot be eliminated/ no

03 overriding criteria.
 Some instances of
conflicting ethical
opinions are equally valid
and it can be supported
by rational method.

Commentary
to
 Evaluating conflicting claims

100

(i) Moralities
90

cannot be
80

compared
70

and criticized.
60
1st Qtr
50
(ii) Ways of life are not
2nd

3rd
40
subject to moral
4th

judgments since there

30

20

10
is no independent
0
ground from which they
East
can be evaluated.
 Evaluating
conflicting claims
Moral feelings can be
helpful in making moral
judgments
( human misery and gross
injustice are ethical
universals).
INTERNAL To Avoid greater
EXTERNAL
EVALUATIONS destruction of life
EVALUATIONS and greater
misery/degradation
There are moral universals
and we must use them to Appeal to
make cross – cultural justice
evaluations.
(ii) We must always
undertake such evaluations
(i) We must always judge and
evaluate moral claims and ways and expect some cases of
of life, but must not expect irreducible conflict and
conclusive answers some cases of solvable
ones.
Appeal to utility Appeal to
10/22/2022
feelings 18
There are no universal
principles to establish
moral truth.
 Thanks!
Melchor L. Cuizon
20