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    Ethics - Morality Is Not Relative - James Rachels Lecture

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    James Rachels argues against cultural relativism in his essay "Morality Is Not Relative." He summarizes the positions of cultural relativists, who claim that morality is determined by each culture and there are no universal moral truths. However, Rachels argues that just because cultures disagree on moral issues, it does not prove there are no objective moral truths. He provides examples showing that while beliefs differ, all cultures share some core values like caring for the young. Therefore, moral disagreements may be over beliefs rather than values.

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    Ethics - Morality Is Not Relative - James Rachels Lecture

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    James Rachels argues against cultural relativism in his essay "Morality Is Not Relative." He summarizes the positions of cultural relativists, who claim that morality is determined by each culture and there are no universal moral truths. However, Rachels argues that just because cultures disagree on moral issues, it does not prove there are no objective moral truths. He provides examples showing that while beliefs differ, all cultures share some core values like caring for the young. Therefore, moral disagreements may be over beliefs rather than values.

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    James Rachels argues against cultural relativism in his essay "Morality Is Not Relative." He summarizes the positions of cultural relativists, who claim that morality is determined by each culture and there are no universal moral truths. However, Rachels argues that just because cultures disagree on moral issues, it does not prove there are no objective moral truths. He provides examples showing that while beliefs differ, all cultures share some core values like caring for the young. Therefore, moral disagreements may be over beliefs rather than values.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    2K views17 pages

    Ethics - Morality Is Not Relative - James Rachels Lecture

    Uploaded by

    api-278252759
    James Rachels argues against cultural relativism in his essay "Morality Is Not Relative." He summarizes the positions of cultural relativists, who claim that morality is determined by each culture and there are no universal moral truths. However, Rachels argues that just because cultures disagree on moral issues, it does not prove there are no objective moral truths. He provides examples showing that while beliefs differ, all cultures share some core values like caring for the young. Therefore, moral disagreements may be over beliefs rather than values.

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    of 17

    Morality Is Not Relative

    James Rachels

    James Rachels (1941-2003)


    American philosopher
    from Columbus, Georgia
    Specialized in ethics and
    animal rights.
    Taught at several
    universities, including a
    26 year career at the
    University of Alabama
    Died of cancer in 2003

    James Rachels: 1. How Different Cultures


    Have Different Moral Codes
    He doesnt dispute the fact that
    different cultures have different
    moral codes
    Points to several examples
    (Callations eating the bodies of
    their dead fathers and the Greeks
    who chose to burn bodies)
    He provides the example of
    Eskimos as an additional, indepth proof of differences from
    our moral codes

    James Rachels: 1. How Different Cultures


    Have Different Moral Codes (Contd)
    Eskimos
    Wife sharing
    Infanticide females were
    often killed, as parents
    pleased and without social
    stigma
    Elderly abandonment- left
    out in the cold to die when
    deemed too weak to face
    harsh conditions

    James Rachels: 1. How Different Cultures


    Have Different Moral Codes (Contd)
    We might want to call the
    Eskimo way of life primitive
    or backward
    Anthropologists and
    sociologists, however, are not
    surprised by the Eskimos way
    of life
    If we assume that our ideas of
    right and wrong will be shared
    by all peoples at all times, we
    are merely nave.

    James Rachels: 2. Cultural Relativism

    Some say that the idea of universal truths


    in ethics are a myth. He examines the
    different claims of CR
    Claims of the Cultural Relativists:
    1. Different societies have different moral
    codes.
    2. There is no objective standard that can be
    used to judge one societal code better than
    another.

    James Rachels: 2. Cultural Relativism


    (Contd)

    Claims of the Cultural Relativists:


    4. There is no universal truth in ethicsthat is,
    there are no moral truths that hold for all peoples
    at all times.
    5. 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.
    6. It is mere arrogance for us to try to judge the
    conduct of other peoples. We should adopt an

    James Rachels: 3. The Cultural Differences


    Argument

    The strategy of the C. Relativist is to argue from facts


    about the differences between cultural outlooks to a
    conclusion about the status of morality.
    Example #1:

    (1) The Greeks believed that it was


    wrong to eat the dead, whereas the
    Callations believed it was right to eat
    the dead.
    (2) Therefore, eating the dead is neither

    James Rachels: 3. The Cultural Differences


    Argument

    Example #2:
    (1) The Eskimos see nothing wrong with
    infanticide, whereas Americans believe
    infanticide is immoral.
    (2) Therefore, infanticide is neither
    objectively right nor objectively wrong. It is
    merely a matter of opinion, which varies
    from culture to culture.
    Therefore we are invited to accept that

    James Rachels: 3. The Cultural Differences


    Argument

    Rachels points out that while many


    people accept this logic, it is not sound
    as the conclusion does not follow the
    premise.
    Even if the premise is true, the
    conclusion might still be false.
    Premise concerns what people
    believe (e.g. in some cultures people
    believe one thing)

    James Rachels: 3. The Cultural


    Differences Argument

    Simply because there exists a


    disagreement, doesnt mean that
    objective truths dont exist.
    World is round, world is flat example:
    Rachels asks whether disagreement on
    this topic means that there is no
    objective truth in geography? Of
    course not!
    There is no reason to think that if

    James Rachels: 4. The Consequences


    of Taking CR Seriously

    1. We cannot critique other cultures


    Nazi Germany
    2. We must look to society to tell us
    what is right and wrong
    Apartheid of South Africa (racial
    segregation)
    3. Moral progress is called into
    question
    Women not considered persons,
    unable to vote, have paying jobs, and

    James Rachels: 5. Why There is Less


    Disagreement Than It Seems

    Consider a society where it is wrong to


    eat cows.
    The culture is poor and there is not
    enough food, yet the cows are not to
    be touched.
    It appears that this society has very
    different cultural values.
    However, we have not asked why the
    society doesnt eat cows. Suppose it is
    because they believe that after death,
    souls inhabit bodies of animals and

    James Rachels: 5. Why There is Less


    Disagreement Than It Seems

    Consider a society where it is wrong


    to eat cows.
    The difference lies in our belief
    systems, not in our values.
    Rachels argues that we agree that we
    shouldnt eat Grandma (same values)
    but disagree about whether the cow is
    Grandma (different beliefs).

    James Rachels: 6. How All Cultures


    Have Some Values in Common

    1. Protection of Young
    a. helpless b. group would
    eventually die out c. any cultural group
    that continues to exist must care for
    its young
    2. Truth Telling
    would make communication
    difficult, making society impossible.
    Conclusion: There are some moral
    rules that all societies will have in

    James Rachels: 7. What Can Be


    Learned From CR
    1. Warns us of the danger of assuming that
    all of our preferences are based on some
    absolute rational standard.
    Some practices are peculiar
    2. Keeping an open mind
    We can become hardened in our ways;
    deeming some behaviours acceptable
    and others unacceptable.
    E.g. homosexuality is immoral Once
    someone points out to us that this is a
    prejudice attitude, we may ignore reasons
    that support why homosexuality is not

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