CUSTOMS and ETHICAL RELATIVISM

Relativism:

•   Distinction   between   “morals”   (“treatment   of others”)   and   “mores”   (“harmless customs”)

Cultural (Descriptive) Relativism:

• Factual Claims: “x is considered right in society y at time t” and “is considered wrong in society z at time t”

• Empirical Conclusion: Moralities are relative

•  This is either true or false (anthropology –a study of mankind , its customs, beliefs, etc. Can figure it out)

Normative (Ethical) Relativism:

•   Normative Claim: “What is considered right in society x at time t is right for that society”

•  A particular culture cannot be judged from outside of that culture.

•   ‘Ethical Relativism’ says that actions are morally right when they are approved by law and custom.

•  They are wrong when they violate laws and custom.

• Ethical egoism tries to reduce moral reasons to matters of self-interest, ‘ethical relativism’ attempts to  reduce moral values  to laws, conventions and customs  of particular societies.

Consequences of Normative Relativism

•  We cannot say other “morals” are inferior to our own society’s

•  We decide the value of our actions based only on what our particular society thinks

•  We should show a lot of tolerance for different customs and outlooks in a society in which we live in. It means that customs can have moral significance in deciding how we should act. This view is called ‘ethical pluralism’.

Reasons for Acceptance of Ethical Relativism

The reasons professed for acceptance of ethical relativism is threefold.

1. Laws seem so tangible and clear-cut. They provide a public way ending seemingly endless disputes about rights and wrongs. But many times, moral reasons seem to be at variance with laws e.g. apartheid laws.

2. Moral standards vary dramatically from one culture to another. The only  kind of objectivity possible is limited to a given set of laws in a given societ y. Acknowledging this relativity of morality encourages the virtue of  tolerance of  differences among societies.

3. Moral judgments should be made in relation to factors that from case to case, usuall y making it impossible to formulate rules which are simple. Customs and laws are usually morally relevant factors that should be taken into account.