PHIL 1020 1st Edition Lecture 6Outline of Last Lecture I. Wrap up of ArgumentsOutline of Current Lecture II. Moral Relativisma. Conflicting Moral Beliefsb. What is an Objective Truthc. Relative TruthIII. Moral ObjectivismIV. Moral SkepticismV.Cultural or Group RelativismVI. Why is Relativism attractive?Current LectureII. Moral Relativism“… there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”- William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act 2, Scene 2Comparison made using American Sniper (killed 150-200 people) and considered hero, and James Holmes (Aurora shooting killed 12) and considered a criminal.A. Conflicting Mora Beliefs- One is regarded as heroic, given medals- One is regarded as evil: facing executed- Why the difference?o Is one really good and the other evil?o Or is it just a matter of perspective?B. What is an Objective Truth?- A. Alex says “Mt. Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand.”- But Marcus says “No, Mt. Aspining is”These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.- In A, Alex’s statement is objectively true, Marcus is objectively false.C. Relative Truth- C. Lira says “Rugby is the best game,” but Chris says “no, hockey is.”- In C, the truth of Lira’s statement is relative to who is saying it.- For her, it’s true, to Chris, it is falseIII. Moral ObjectivismThe view that moral beliefs can be objectively true or false.E.g., James Holmes really did a bad thingE.g., MLK’s letter: a real difference between just and unjust lawsIV. Moral SkepticismDenies that there is any objective basis to morality- Two main varieties:1. Moral NihilismNihilists believe in:- There are no moral truths at all- Ultimately. Nothing is right and nothing is wrong.2. Moral RelativismMoral Relativists believe:- Moral judgments can be true or false, but the truth or false, is relative- Relative to what? – individualsIndividual Relativism aka Subjectivism- Shaun and Lisa see a sniper kill a person- Shaun sees it as an evil act, and Lisa sees it as a good act- The basis of moral judgments come from within the viewer/person making the judgments- A moral judgment is a statement about my feelings.- E.g., “Abortion is wrong” is true for me if I feel abortion is wrongV. Cultural or Group RelativismWhat is “good,” or “right,” etc. is determined by each culture or group.-“homosexuality is good” is true for a culture if they regard it as good & vice versa.- Anthropologist Ruth Benedict studied Pacific Island cultures.- What is normal in some cultures is deviant in others.- Concluded that moral behaviors are “socially approved habits”- Provides a moral standard within cultureBut not between culturesVI. Why is Relativism attractive?The existence of differences in views on what is right- No obvious way to resolve moral disagreements.“Who am I to judge?”No “moral fact-checker”- Enlightened “attitude towards differences.”- Tolerant, non judgmental“When in rome…” – go by local customs“What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas”- Reduces