Chapter 2 Subjectivism, Realism, and Emotivism
According to subjective relativism, when Erin says that same-sex marriage is wrong, she is really saying that ______. And when Stephen says that same-sex marriage is not wrong, he and Erin are _______.
1. She disapproves of same-sex marriage. 2. Not having a moral disagreement.
Cultural relativism is the view that an action is _________ if one's culture approves of it. Moral rightness and wrongness are _______. So in one culture, an action may be morally right; in another culture, it may be morally wrong.
1. morally right 2. therefore relative to cultures
Emotivism is a version of _________ because it says that moral claims ________.
1. noncognitivism 2. cannot be true of false
Moral objectivism and subjective relativism agree on one thing: ___________. This differentiates them from________.
1. there are moral truths. 2. emotivism
Subjective relativism implies that individuals are _________. For the same reasons, cultural relativism implies that ________ are morally infallible.
1. morally infallible 2. cultures
Aubrey and Derek are discussing the morality of capital punishment. Aubrey believes that capital punishment is immoral, and Derek believes that it is morally acceptable. If cultural relativism is true, how should they resolve their disagreement?
Find a reliable poll of public opinion on the issue of capital punishment.
How would an emotivist describe the statement "Happiness is good"?
Neither true nor false
Suppose you judge the actions of other people to be morally wrong. What does subjective relativism say about these judgments?
Some judgments cannot be mistaken.
Objectivism says that it is ________ appropriate to criticize a culture you are not a part of.
Sometimes
Camila lives in a society where eating animals is considered right, and she agrees. Which moral view is Camila using to inform this belief?
We do not have enough information to say.
Eric approves of affirmative action and believes that it is right, regardless of whether his culture believes it is right. What moral view is Eric using to inform this belied?
We do not have enough information to say.
Objectivism
the theory that moral truths exist and that they do so independently of what individuals or societies think of them
Emotivism
the view that moral utterances are neither true nor false but are expressions of emotions or attitudes
Sean is a member of the KKK who approves of slavery and believes that the world would be better if certain racial groups were enslaved. If subjective relativism is true, then what does that imply about Sean's beliefs?
Correct answers: -His beliefs are true Incorrect answers: -His beliefs are not based on good reason. -His beliefs are wrong because they are not consistent with what his culture believes.
What would a cultural relativist say about the issue of female genital cutting (FGC)?
Cultural Relativist"s Response: -It is wrong if one's culture disapproves of it. Not a Cultural Relativist's Response: -It is right if it serves a valuable function. -It is wrong if the individual it is happening to believes it is wrong. -It is right if the person consents to it.
Shivam and Sahar agree that it is wrong to steal, unless you are in great need through no fault of your own. How could they end up disagreeing about whether it is morally right for Claire to steal?
Disagree: -They could disagree about whether Claire is in great need -They could disagree about whether Claire is in great need due to her own decisions Do not disagree: -They could be objectivists about morality -They could be subjective relativists
Some people use widespread disagreement about morality to argue for cultural relativism. This argument assumes that if people's judgments about some issue differ from culture to culture, then there are no objective truths about that issue. Which of the following examples pose a problem for that assumption?
Examples that pose a problem: -Some cultures believe that God exists, while others do not. -Some cultures believed that the earth was flat, while some cultures now believe it is not. Examples that do not pose a problem: -Some cultures find raw fish to be delicious, while others do not. -Some cultures fund body art to be beautiful, while others do not.
Imagine that one culture believes that it is your moral obligation to convert people to your religion. A different culture, however, believes that trying to convert people to your religion is intrusive and morally wrong. What might explain this disagreement?
Explain the disagreement: -Each culture has different beliefs about what happens to people who are not members of their religion. -Each culture accepts different moral principles. Does not explain the disagreement: -Each culture has the same beliefs about what happens to people who are not members of their religion. -Each culture accepts the same moral principles.
Jason believes that it is true that capital punishment is morally wrong, even though he knows that his culture approves of capital punishment. Based on this information, which of the following moral views could Jason be using to inform his belief?
Moral View: -moral objectivism -subjective relativism Not a Moral View: -cultural relativism -emotivism
Tyreke thinks that, in the future, people will negatively judge our current society. Tyreke believes that there is a lot that our society does wrong, from polluting the planet to how we treat animals used for food, and so he thinks that those judgments from future people will be true. Based on this information, which of the following moral views could Tyreke be using to inform his belief?
Moral Views that Inform Belief: -subjective relativism -objectivism Not a Moral View that Informs Belief: -cultural relativism -emotivism
Maria believes that abortion is morally acceptable, and she thinks that those with a pro-life position are mistaken in their moral view. Based on this information, which of the following moral views could Maria be using to inform her belief?
Moral Views: -cultural relativism -moral objectivism Not a Moral View: -subjective relativism -emotivism
Consider the following argument for cultural relativism. Which assumption must stand in for Premise 2 in order to complete the argument?
Premise 1: Peoples' judgments about right and wrong differ from culture to culture. Premise 2: If people's judgments about some issue differ from culture to culture, then there are no objective truths about that issue Premise 3: Therefore, there are no objective truths about right and wrong.
Chris and Tom are having a debate about the morality of assisted suicide; Chris thinks that it is always wrong, and Tom thinks that there are some circumstances where it is acceptable. If emotivism is correct, then which of the following statements describe their debate?
Statement that describe their debate: -They are trying to influence the other's attitude and actions -They are expressing conflicting attitudes toward assisted suicide Not a statement that describes their debate: -They are disagreeing about whether assisted suicide is morally wrong or morally acceptable -They are trying to figure out whether assisted suicide is approved by their culture
Joanna belongs to a culture that thinks that other cultures with different moral viewpoints should not be tolerated, but instead must be conquered. Joanna herself doesn't agree with this this. If cultural relativism is true, what should believe about tolerance? If subjective relativism is true, what should Joanna believe about tolerance?
What Joanna should believe if subjective relativism is true: - Different moral points of view should be tolerated. What Joanna should believe if cultural relativism is true: -Different moral points of view should not be tolerated.
What is the difference between cultural relativism and subjective relativism?
Whether an action is right because one's culture approves of it or because an individual approves of it.
Subject Relativism
the view that an action is morally right if one approves of it
Cultural Relativism
the view that an action is morally right if one's culture approves of it