Peace studies,
Week 1- Conflict Resolution and
Moral
Relativism
General Ethics
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Foundations for ethical enquiry
Ethics is a complex, practical discipline.
Distinguish from other practical disciplines-
technical vs ethics.
Ethics has to consider what ends are worth
pursuing and under what circumstances they are
worth pursuing all things considered.
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Preliminary questions
Are questions of right or wrong questions of
personal preference?
Are there actions that are right or wrong for
everyone no matter the culture, history, or
status?
Is there objective truth?
3
Moral Relativism/objectivism
Objectivists and relativists- the distinction is complex
but real.
An objectivist will say that there is moral right and
wrong just as it will be wrong to say the sun rotates
around the earth or 2+2 is five.
Points to consider:
1, our learning of ethical principles is a process- we can
have incomplete knowledge or moral weakness which
makes it imperfect.
2, it does not mean that there are objective norms for
every behaviour so that one is determined.
3, There is no single valid way of life.
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What the relativists say
Everything in morality is a matter
of opinion and/or convention
Their fears include-
Moral – a, the possibility of intolerance and
Relativists imposition of one’s convictions
– b, non accommodation of diverse
moral opinions.
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The problem with
misunderstanding tolerance
Fear of intolerance- (e.g the
Spanish inquisition, the Taliban)-
but millions have been killed in
the name of tolerance e.g
abortion or power e.g Mao,
Tolerance/
Stalin.
Intolerance
Ethical relativists can be quite
intolerant when they say you
should not impose your
convictions – e.g cancel culture
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Moral Objectivism and Tolerance
Objectivism does not lead to intolerance if
freedom is understood.
Conviction of the truth is no excuse to impede
the freedom of others but freedom comes
with responsibility.
Uncontrolled desire for power often leads to
intolerance.
There are situations that are morally
indifferent (e.g the choice of ice cream)
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Some objective claims
It is good to keep your promises.
Health and vitality are good and worth
pursuing.
It is wrong to take an innocent life.
One should give honour to whom honour is
due.
Chattel slavery is wrong.
Countries can have different systems of
government.
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The apparent diversity of moral
opinions
– Some differences depend on different
social priorities (e.g the refugee situation)
– Some differences depend on beliefs about
matters of fact (e.g human sacrifices)
– Disagreement is different from radical
diversity
– Sometimes there are many opinions and
only one is objectively right
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Arguments against moral relativism
1, The argument from spontaneous
recognition-
– see our impulse to justify some of our
actions
- wanton killing by armed robbers, unjust
covid situation, apartheid, extortion, - are
these matters of taste and subjective opinion?
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What do you think of B?
A is B’s mother. A was widowed shortly after B's
birth and at the cost of great toil and sacrifice
has managed to earn enough to provide B with a
university education. A has always been most
devoted and affectionate towards B, who has no
legitimate complaint against her. B is now a
successful professional and enjoys a very high
standard of living, but he allows his mother to
live in miserable conditions in her old age.
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Arguments against moral
relativism
2, The argument from the criticism of
injustice
A relativist can’t say anything is unfair, can’t
insist on certain duties or standards of
behavior. Can’t complain he’s been stolen
from or raped etc
3, Near - universal agreement on a number of
moral standards. Underlying some wrongful
actions there is an acknowledgement of a
universal fact 12
Near universal agreement on a number of
moral norms and principles
“Men have differed as regards what people you
ought to be unselfish to -whether it was only
your own family, or your fellow countrymen, or
every one. But they have always agreed that you
ought not to put yourself first. Selfishness has
never been admired.”
-C S Lewis
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Some incoherencies
Is it absolutely true that there is no absolute
truth?
As soon as we say “we shouldn’t impose our
morality on other people” we are already
imposing something.
Morality is absolute when our actions affect
other people (interpersonal morality), but
relative when our actions affect only ourselves
(personal morality).
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Universal values
1, All human societies show a concern for the
value of human life
2, All societies restrict sexual activity to a
certain extent.
3, All societies display a concern for truth.
4, All treat the bodies of dead members
different from how they dispose of trash.
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Universal values contd
5, All display a respect for powers that are
considered superhuman
6, All have respect towards parents, children,
kindred, country.
7, All acknowledge duties of kindness and
beneficence
8, All have duties of mercy towards the
weaker etc
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Sayings on truthfulness and good
HINDU: "A sacrifice is obliterated by a lie and the
merit of alms by an act of fraud" (laws of Manu).
BABYLONIAN: "Whose mouth, full of lying, avails
not before thee: thou burnest their utterance"
(Hymn to Samas).
EGYPTIAN: "I have not spoken falsehood"
(Confession of the Righteous Soul).
JEWISH: "My lips shall not speak falsehood, nor
my tongue utter deceit" (Book of Job).
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More sayings…
ANGLOSAXON: "I sought no trickery, nor
swore false oaths" (Beowulf).
CHINESE: "The Master said, be of unwavering
good faith" (Analects of Confucius).
NORSE: "In Nastrond (Hell) I saw the
perjurers" (Volospa).
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More sayings…
GREEK: "Hateful to me as are the gates of Hades is
that man who says one thing, and hides another in
his heart" (Homer).
ROMAN: "The foundation of justice is good faith"
(Cicero).
MOSLEM: "Speak justly, even if a near relation is
concerned” (Qur'an).
IGBO: "Truth is life".
YORUBA: "Truthfulness pays off better than lying".
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