What is meant by Moral Relativism

Moral relativism is an approach to ethics. It is the belief that morality does not relate to any absolute standards of right or wrong, but things such as circumstances and culture affect what is perceived to be ‘good’ and ‘bad’ or ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. The idea behind moral relativism is to make the right decision based on the current situation. By taking each choice at a time and weighing up the pros and cons, moral relativists should be able to make a decision that suits everybody involved.

A relativist would never view two situations the same, as they know that no two situations can ever be identical. In this way moral relativists are the opposite of absolutes, such as strict upholders of the natural law approach to ethics. This is because moral relativists can never rule anything out or say that anything is defiantly wrong, that is relativist to the situation they are in, for instance, an absolute would argue that in any case of abortion it is always wrong, and should never be done.

Whereas a relativist would argue is right in some cases for example rape, and wrong in others for example, just because you don’t want the baby. There are many relativist approaches to moral decision-making. Situation ethics is the theory that the right moral behaviour can be different for different people, according to the circumstances in which they find themselves. The term ‘situation ethics’ is usually associated with the American writer Joseph Fletcher, who wrote a book about situation ethics.

Situation ethics is also to encourage people to behave as adults and to use their own common sense when making moral decisions. Situation ethics has many advantages including; the fact that it allows people to take responsibility for their own decision making and encourages them to use their freedom of choice. It also provides a way in which Christians can make decisions about issues not associated with the bible. There are also many criticisms of situation ethics; it gives some people too much responsibility, which they cannot cope with. It also expects too much of people.

It may also sometimes go against what the bible states. Other approaches of moral relativism are social contract theory which looks at how Thomas Hobbes argue that right and wrong id determined by the need for people to curb their naturally selfish desires and work in the intrests of the group. Also utilitarianism, a system proposed by Jeremy Benthan and John Stuart Mill looks at how there is no ultimate or absolute goodness but find a course of action that will please the majority.

‘The problem with moral relativists theories is that they do not provide any definite answers. Discuss. Some people would agree with this statemant as moral relativism theories do not provide any definite answers as it lets people use their own opinions, views and ideas of what is right and wrong. Many of the approaches argue that, for example situation ethics (Joseph Fletcher) argued that the right moral behaviour could be different for different people. An example of this would that some people find it mor4ally wrong to eat meat because we are killing animals, and people believe that they have rights.

However other people would argue against this and say that eating meat is morally right because without us breeding them to eat them they would be extinct. Therefore there is no definite answer to this situation. Other people would disagree with this statement, as they would argue that moral relativists theories do provide a definite answer. For example in the case of a young girl who has been raped wanting an abortion, and a y woman how is pregnant and doesn’t want a baby yet wanting an abortion. Who should be allowed the abortion?

In this case there would be a definite answer because it would be morally right for the girl the have an abortion as she did not choose to become pregnant and does not have to have her life ruined because of being raped. Therefore it will always be morally right for this girl to have an abortion in this case. However in the woman’s case it would be seen as defiantly morally wrong to have the abortion as she has no valid reason to kill the unborn child, she is physically and mentally fit top have a baby and it would not harm her in any way.

Therefore it is a definite wrong for the woman to kill a baby for the fact that she doe not want a baby yet, it is her fault for not using protection. Therefore in these case is a definite right to let the young girl have an abortion, but it is a definite wrong for the woman to have the abortion. Also systems such as the natural law leave little doubt and choice. The natural law is our inborn sense of right and wrong, discovered through the conscience. Natural law is an absolute, and our belief of what is always right and wrong. For example I believe that it is always wrong to smoke, and that it is always wrong to drink and drive.