-WRITEN BY ZULAIKA BINTI ZAINUDIN -
- ID : 62289212267 -
- GROUP : ME42 -
- GROUP : ME42 -
-BBA (HONS) IN ISLAMIC FINANCE-
WHAT IS RELATIVISM? AND EXPLAIN ON THE MORAL CONCEPT OF RELATIVISM.
Relativism is the philosophical position that all points of view are equally valid, and that all truth is relative to the individual. This means that all moral positions, all religious systems, all art forms, all political movements, are truths that are relative to the individual. Under the umbrella of relativism, whole groups of perspectives are categorized. In obvious terms, some are cognitive relativism (truth) is Cognitive relativism affirms that all truth is relative, moral/ethical relativism is all morals are relative to the social group within which they are constructed and situational relativism is Ethics (right and wrong) are dependent upon the situation.
Moral Relativism At first glance, moral relativism appears to be an appealing, well though out philosophical view; the truth of moral judgements is relative to the judging subject or community. The basic definition of moral relativism is that all moral points of view are equally valid; no single person’s morals are any more right or wrong than any other person’s. As you look closer at the points that moral relativists use to justify their claims, you can plainly see that there are, more often than not, viable objections that can be made against the moral relativist’s arguments. Moral, or ethical, relativism is made up of two types of relativism: cultural and individual relativism. Cultural relativism says that right and wrong, good and evil, are relative to a culture, to a way of life that is practice by a whole group of people. Individual relativism says that right and wrong, good and evil, are relative to the preferences of an individual. Cultural and individual relativism support the claim that there are no “universal moral truths” in the world. Universal moral truths are morals that apply to all societies and cultures.
Moral relativism is a philosophy that asserts there is no global, absolute moral law that applies to all people, for all time, and in all places. Instead of an objective moral law, it espouses a qualified view where morals are concerned, especially in the areas of individual moral practice where personal and situational encounters supposedly dictate the correct moral position.
In modern times, the espousal of moral relativism has been closely linked to the theory of evolution. The argument is, in the same way that humanity has evolved from lesser to greater biological organisms, the same process is in play in the area of morals and ethics. Therefore, all that can be ascertained at present (and forever) is that there is no absolute or fixed certainty in the area of morality.
Following this argument to its logical conclusion causes consternation among many, even those who espouse moral relativism. Paul Kurtz, in the book The Humanist Alternative, sums up the end result this way: “If man is a product of evolution, one species among others, in a universe without purpose, then man’s option is to live for himself”.
