Relativism and Morality Essay

We ar taught the difference between what is estimable and what is scathe at a young age by our p arnts or guardians. What is classified as correctly or vilify fucking differ between cultures, races, ethnic identities, and by social class. We all have a sense of what is virtuously salutary and the relativity of it. There are specific traits and beliefs that are distinctive to every(prenominal) culture, race, and social classes, due mostly impart to the differences we have in what we direct to be chastely dependable.The idea of universal morals fork ups that through our pagan differences thither is still a connection to the moral beliefs that we share, and shows that cultures are more alike than admit. There are some beliefs and customs that are considered morally justified in some cultures exactly in another, they are considered to be morally wrong. In his oblige Goodman gives solid examples of how something that is considered to be morally right in bingle heathenish , would be wrong in another.Some of the topics that Goodman touches on are, genocide, hostage taking, slavery, polygamy, rape and pistillate genital cutting (2010). Goodman argues that there are certain roleplays that are without a doubt considered to be wrong. While I do agree with his theory that acts such as incest, slavery, and rape (just to make out a few) are wrong, there are particularors that should be considered before an act is considered morally just or unjust. Relativism is hotshot of the ways that certain acts can be viewed be other cultures without completely ruling the acts as right or wrong. Relativism is the idea that ones beliefs and values are dumb in terms of ones society, culture, or even ones own individual values (Mosser, 2010).Therefore, by relativism acts like polygamy, female castration, terrorism and infanticide are example of acts that are considered wrong for most Americans but in the cultures that practice these acts they see nothing wrong with th em. Relativism and Morality many a(prenominal) people find relativism extremely attractive. After all, determining what is right and wrong is frequently very difficult.It may also be difficult to hold inrather than just assertthat a given cultures (usually ones own) values are the correct ones, and that those values that are different are somehow wrong. Relativism also seems to decrease the kinds of conflicts that arise everywhere such issues (Mosser, 2010). Mosser puts into a clear prospective of how relativism and morality can shape to holdher to better under behave a culture outside of our own. I do not look that there are universal moral requirements that every culture, race, and even social class can agree on.I believe that taking another human beings life is wrong, yet I still support our troops and all that they do to keep our inelegant safe. Goodman states, all living beings make claims to life and murder is wrong because it destroys a life, yet warfare is not always wrong because it may be necessary to protect life. (2010). Relativism does provide a spectrum to view the world and cultural issues through, there are still problems that can arise. Difficulties arise for relativism, when we consider the fact that few people come from a single, specifiable culture. There may be general notions that guide ones society, but one may also consider oneself part of many different groups, each of which can inform ones moral values. Relativism seems fairly clear, until we blend in trying to decide what provides our moral sense. You have a given country, language, gender, religion or lack of religion, race, ethnicity, class, and so on, but does only one of these gear up your values (Mosser, 2010)? Another issue that arises with relativism is that is an easy way out of relations with ethical dilemmas and accepting practices that we feel are wrong.In addition, it may be difficult for a society to see and picture that it might be doing something that is im moral if questions of morality cannot be raised within ones society. Relativism and Morality While the argument brought forth in Goodmans article are all true and he makes very valid points, there are some beliefs and customs that are considered morally justified in some cultures but in another, they are considered to be morally wrong. Relativisms aims to show that no one specific culture is right or wrong for doing things the way that they do and that is the mode that I follow.From my own cultural stand point there are certain acts that I would be against if they we to be implemented on American society but I understand the culture who practice those acts and cannot fault those people that have been raise in that way of life. As for my personal opinion as to whether we will get to the point of universal moral requirements I do not think we will all be on one accord anytime soon, for the open fact that each culture, race, social class, and ethnicity have their own way of dealings with specific moral issues.