There is such a thing as moral truth.
Michael W. Austin in Psychology Today
Or, for others, clearly "yes"."Isn't all morality relative?"
I often get this question from students, as there seems to be a fairly pervasive acceptance of moral relativism in much of our culture these days. However, the answer to this question is pretty clearly "no."
Now all we need is a....a context?
Okay, if there are some objective moral truths, let the moral realists among us note them in regard to a particular moral conflict given a particular set of circumstances.There are a variety of philosophical arguments against moral relativism. Some of them are reasons for accepting moral realism, which is the view that there are some objective moral truths.
Exactly. Other arguments. Theoretical assumptions about the human condition in the is/ought world up in the philosophical clouds.Other arguments against relativism point out some of the problematic implications it has, as well as the flaws in arguments that have been offered in favor of relativism.
Tell that to the sociopaths? Seriously, in a No God world, how would one go about actually demonstrating this? Then the part where, in regard to issues like abortion, gun ownership and human sexuality, one side's objective moral truths are the other side's objective moral falsehoods.First, consider that one powerful argument in favor of moral realism involves pointing out certain objective moral truths. For example, "Cruelty for its own sake is wrong," "Torturing people for fun is wrong (as is rape, genocide, and racism)," "Compassion is a virtue," and "Parents ought to care for their children."
Again, from my own frame of mind "here and now", it's not me rejecting those claims, but the moral objectivists/moral realists demonstrating to me why all rational and virtuous men and women are in fact obligated to accept them.A bit of thought here, and one can produce quite a list. If you are really a moral relativist, then you have to reject all of the above claims. And this an undesirable position to occupy, both philosophically and personally.