Challenge to Moral Reasoning
Issue Arguments Challenges
i. Different societies have i.
different moral codes.
ii. The moral code of a society
determines what is right ii.
within that society.
iii. There is no objective
standard that can be used to
judge one society’s code as
better than another’s.
iv. The moral code of our own iii.
society has no special status;
it is but one among many.
v. It is arrogant for us to judge iv.
Cultural Relativism other cultures. We should
always be tolerant of them.
v.
Counter-Arguments
There will be no standards. i. Despite the differences in
One can always cite that cultural practices, “there are
argument. some moral rules that all
The conclusion does not societies must embrace,
follow from the premise. because those rules are
There might still be an necessary for society to exist.”
objective truth behind it. ii. There is a “difference between
E.g. Flat earth and sphere what a society believes about
earth argument. morals and what is really true.
We would also be barred The moral code of a society is
from criticizing other closely tied to what people in
cultural practices. that society believe to be right.
Likewise, it would bar us However, that code, and those
from criticizing our own people, can be in error.”
practices. No room for iii. How do we judge a practice to
changes, and other cultural be unacceptable? Ask: Does the
infusions. practice promote or hinder the
Moral progress will be put welfare of the people affected by
into question. Without it? This becomes your
standards, how can one objective standard.
gauge progress – how can iv. One cannot generalize or
one gauge what is better equalize all moral codes. Some
now than before? might be the best, some might
be worst.
v. Tolerance is good. But, do not
tolerate everything.