Meta-ethical Theories

Moral relativism: there is more than one true morality.

Moral scepticism: we cannot identify a true morality
Moral Subjectivism – right and wrong is determined by
what the subject happens to believe is right or wrong.
Cultural relativism – right and wrong is determined by
what a particular group of people (a particular culture)
accepts as right and wrong at the time.
Moral objectivism – right and wrong is determined by a
standard independent of the subject or a certain group
of people.
Moral egoism – right and wrong is determined
by what is in my best interests; that is to say, it is
immoral to act against my best interests.
Psychological egoism – acting only in my best
interests.
Psychological egoism does not entail moral
egoism
 Rachels on “The Challenge of Cultural Relativism”
- Different societies have different moral codes.
- There is no objective standard that can be used to judge one
societal code better than another.
- The moral code of our own society has no special status; it is
merely one among many.
- There is no “universal truth” in ethics; that is, there are no
moral truths that hold for all people at all times
- The moral code of a society determines what is right within
that society’ that is, if the moral code of a society says that a
certain action is right, then that action is right, at least within
that society
- It is mere arrogance for us to try to judge the conduct of other
peoples. We should adopt an attitude of tolerance toward the
practices of other cultures
 Moral Relativism
Empirical thesis: There are numerous profound
disagreements about morality.

• Meta-ethical thesis: The truth of moral

judgments is relative to a particular group of
people.
CR ET: Different cultures profoundly disagree
about numerous issues in morality.

CR MT: The truth of moral judgments is relative

to a particular culture.
The argument from ET to MT
is INVALID
IS

OUGHT
 Consequences of accepting CR
A) We could no longer say that the customs of other societies
are morally inferior to our own. (Examples: female
circumcision; Nazi atrocities)
B) We could decide whether actions are right or wrong just by
consulting the standards of our society. – Therefore, no
reforms are morally justified. (Examples: abolition of slavery;
abolition of dictatorships)
C) The idea of moral progress is called into doubt. (Examples:
progress with respect to race, gender, animal rights is
unjustified).
 Argument from consequences
1. If CR is true, then a) we cannot criticize
other cultures, and b) we cannot
criticize our own culture, and c) there
is no moral progress.
2. But, at least a) or b), or c) are false.
3. CR is false.