Difference between revisions of "Moral relativism"

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Moral relativism is the theory that moral standards vary from society to society, and from time to time in history. Under this theory, ethical principles are not universal and are instead social products. This theory argues that there is no objective moral order or absolute truth. Indeed, variability in what is seen as moral is seen throughout history: with the holocaust-genocide of the Jews by the Nazi Party, the enslavement of the African people by both European and American powers, the persecution (including torture and murder) of Christians during Roman times and in Communist states, all justified by the perpetrators in moral terms. For example, Hitler justified his racial policies by saying:

The greatest achievements in intellectual life can never be produced by those of alien race but only by those who are inspired by the Aryan or German spirit. In view of the narrowness of the space within which German intellectual work and German intellectual workers have to live they had a natural moral claim to precedence and preference. [1]

Similarly, the case for slavery was often made in moral terms, with Thomas Dew arguing in 1832 that:

With regard to the assertion, that slavery is against the spirit of Christianity, we are ready to admit the general assertion, but deny most positively that there is any thing in the Old or New Testament, which would go to show that slavery, when once introduced, ought at all events to be abrogated, or that the master commits any offence in holding slaves. The children of Israel themselves were slave holders, and were not condemned for it.…When we turn to the New Testament, we find not one single passage at all calculated to disturb the conscience of an honest slave holder. [2]

In recent times, according to the Discovery Institute:

Moral relativism was uncritically adopted by much of the social sciences, and it still under girds much of modern economics, political science, psychology and sociology. [3]

Moral relativity is a philosophy that states there is no absolute Right or Wrong, and that anyone can freely use his own conscience to decide what is moral. A moral relativist will not say that theft or murder is wrong, because he believes it is up to the murderer or thief to decide whether his behavior is justified. "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." (Proverbs 14:12)

Moral relativity and related foolish thinking is what allows liberals to support abortion, gay rights, and drug abuse. Moral relativity erodes principled self-defense and thereby leads to misguided demands for gun control as well as psychiatric problems resulting from a lack of mental self-defense.

While the idea of moral relativity exists independently of (and substantially predates) the scientific theory of relativity, moral relativists seized on the theory of relativity to legitimize their views. Historians such as Paul Johnson wrote about how the theory of relativity caused a sea change, justified or not, in 20th century thought.

Moral relativism as TUMOR

According to Ryan Dobson^[1] moral relativism is a philosophy that can be abbreviated with mnemonic word TUMOR:

• Tolerant: Moral relativism represents a hypocritical culture in which the "tolerance" is emphasized (tolerance is "king") even though not honored even-handedly. Criticism is not welcome except against opponents who dare to show their own independent opinion deviating from what is considered as 'politically correct'. A misconceived virtue of tolerance ends up in tolerance of moral deviations and vileness.^[2] Distorted philosophy of tolerance leads to life in complete opposition to its own central belief. Christianity calling for moral responsibility is however not tolerated by "tolerance brigade".^[1] Its organized form, especially of a hierarchical sort, is a definite no-no.^{[note 1]} Still, a moral relativist may be open to forms of Christianity offering spiritual experiences but would get likely offended by 'arrogant' claims of Absolute Truth. Spirituality, whatever its source, is intriguing. The post-modern mindset of moral relativist tends to 'mix and match' ideas wherever they come from^{[note 2]} and the borders between reality and fantasy are blurred.^{[note 3][3]} The twisted perception of tolerance can be traced back to Gnosticism where it was one of its fundamental hallmarks.^[4]
• Untraditional: The culture of moral relativism naively favors everything labelled as "alternative": alternative music, alternative voices, alternative medicine, alternative life styles. The rebellion against traditional values is promoted, often in form of provoking obscene "cultural" expressions.^{[note 4]} The favorite topic of modern profane relativists is, for example, a fictional story on relationship between Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene such as one by Jose Saramago in his blaspheme work The Gospel According to Jesus Christ. Another example might be movie Million Dollar Baby which is compared with Nazi movie Ich klage an (I accuse) banned by Allies after World War II due to its hidden propaganda promoting Nazi program for euthanasia.^[6] Ironically, after the state adopted their agenda, the homosexuals in Norwegian radio 'radiOrakel' expressed their disappointment that "there is no fun being gay in Norway anymore ... all exotic part of being gay or lesbian is gone".^[7] What counts is having fun now, living for sensuous gratification and excitement at the very present moment.^{[3][note 5]} Moral relativists don't truly want anything that is unusual or new - because if they did, then Christianity might eventually become an alternative they would have to try. What they really want is anti-Christianity. Moral relativism actively rejects the faith of the New Testament and strongly recommends to pick another, more "flexible" belief system.^{[note 6]}
• Marginalized: Moral relativism is a culture that portrays delinquents as "victims". The misdeeds of celebrities, athletes, and politicians are quickly forgotten because their sordid behavior is deemed as driven by the unreasonable demands of fame and fortune. For example, supporters of Bill Clinton never wavered after the truth about the Lewinsky affair came out, claiming he was the victim of a right-wing conspiracy. In a society marked by moral relativism addictions are portrayed as handicaps void of any personal responsibility of their practitioners while many times the really handicapped people struggle to get their support. Social scientist Charles Sykes provided a classic example of how deeply victim psychology has permeated american culture. An FBI agent, who was fired for his crime of embezzling amount of money and using it for gambling, went to court. There he successfully argued that his gambling behavior was a handicap, protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Thus, the FBI was forced to reinstate him.^[9]
• Outdoors: Moral relativism is associated with radical environmentalism. Many of the same protagonists who defend a woman's "right" to kill her unborn child would hurl themselves in front of a bulldozer to rescue a nest of spotted owl eggs.
• Reprobate: Reprobrate means marked with immorality; deviating from what is considered right or proper or good. The culture of moral relativism has adopted an "anything goes"^{[note 7]} morality, a kind of moral whatever-ness. Individuals are misusing their own rights without respecting the rights of others and often even without sensing they violate them.^{[note 8]} The typical example is a burglar who broke into private house and sue owners because he slip on their floor.

Moral Relativism and Absolute Truth

Moral relativists like to proclaim the death of absolute truth. Their self-refuting argument is however based on logical fallacy known as reductio ad absurdum since they implicitly assume the existence of the very same thing they try to deny. Dobson concludes with some irony that "The absolute truth is alive and well, and moral relativists count on it every day."^[1]

Notes

1. ↑ cf. article II) 'Intolerance' in Anti-Christian sentiment
2. ↑ cf.Syncretism
3. ↑ cf.Logic of possibility and Postmodern science
4. ↑ cf. "Madonna told me to break every rule I could think of, and then when I was done to make up some new ones and break them." - the choreographer of Madonna's 1990 world tour^[5]
5. ↑ cf. Hedonism
6. ↑ cf. "Russel, in particular, was so found of tergiversation that another celebrated British philosopher, C.D. Broad, once said, 'As we all know, Mr. Russell produces a different system of philosophy every few years.'"^[8]
7. ↑ Anything goes is also a principle of methodological anarchism of Paul Karl Feyerabend that rejects the existence of privilege of norms.^[10]
8. ↑ cf. Disturbed character

See Also

• Moral relativity
• Moral degeneration
• Postmodernism
• Liberal denial
• Liberal arrogance
• Anthropological Revolution
• Good and evil

References