This document discusses ethical subjectivism and relativism. It defines ethical subjectivism as the view that the truth or falsity of ethical propositions depends on people's attitudes. There are two types of subjectivism: normative subjectivism, where moral judgments report a speaker's sentiments; and meta-ethical subjectivism, where moral judgments express feelings rather than report attitudes. Ethical relativism holds that morality depends on the norms of one's own culture, so an action being right or wrong varies by society. The document outlines arguments for and against subjectivism and relativism, such as subjectivism aligning with pluralism but conflicting with moral intuitions.
2. ETHICAL SUBJECTIVISM
Ethical subjectivism is the meta-ethical view
which claims that :Ethical sentences express
propositions.Some such propositions are true.
The truth or falsity of such propositions is
ineliminably dependent on the attitudes of
people.
4. NORMATIVE SUBJECTIVISM
• Normative subjectivism allows that moral
judgements can be true or false.There is
truth in ethics,but no objective truth.A moral
judgement is true just in case it accurately
reports the sentiments of the speaker.
• Sincerity is the mark of ethical truth.
• A moral judgement would be false if the speaker
who utters it is not honestly reporting
his or her beliefs.
5. META –ETHICAL SUBJECTIVISM
• Meta –ethical subjectivism claims that normative theories,
and moral judgements in general,cannot be true.
• According to meta-ethical subjectivism,the purpose of
moral judgement is not to report personal or social
attitudes,but rather to express one’s feelings or voice one’s
commitments.
6. ARGUMENTS OF ETHICAL
SUBJECTIVISM
FOR
• Ethical subjectivism is compatible with our experience of living
in a pluralistic society.
• Ethical subjectivism seems very tolerant.
AGAINST
• Ethical subjectivism is in conflict with some of our most
fundamental moral intutions.
• It is impossible to disagree about ethical questions in a
genuine manner.
• If ethical subjectivism is accurate,then our ethical judgement
are correct.
7. ETHICAL RELATIVISM
• Ethical Relativism is the theory that holds that
morality is relative to the norms of one’s
culture.That is, whether an action is right or
wrong depends on the moral norms of the
society in which it is practiced.The same
action may be morally right in one society
but be morally wrong in another.
8. ARGUMENTS OF ETHICAL
RELATIVISM
• Argument -1
“Since cultures and individuals differ
in certain moral pratices,there are no objective
moral values”.
• Objections on this argument:
1. There is a right answer
2. Differences in pratices not values
3. Differences in apperance
9. • Arguments -2
“Since ethical relativism
promotes tolerance of certain cultural
pratices,ethical relativism is a good
thing”
• Objections on this argument:
1. Tolerance is absolute value
2. Tolerance is not virtue here
