Ethical Relativism, Skepticism, and Moral Autonomy

The origins of ethical relativism can be traced back to the Homeric poems, specifically the Iliad and the Odyssey. These poems suggest a lack of universal moral values. Socrates challenged this view, asserting the existence of inherent moral values, a concept he explored through the Socratic method.

Moral Relativism

Moral relativism posits that principles of right and wrong are subjective and can only be found within each individual or group. Right and good are always relative to a specific group. This idea originated in Greece with the Sophists, notably Protagoras.

Related Positions to Relativism

• Cultural Relativism
• Contextual Relativism
• Ethnocentrism

Skepticism

Skepticism, as articulated by Pyrrho, suggests that we cannot find any reliable criterion for choosing between options. It argues that it is impossible to definitively distinguish between right and wrong.

Subjectivism

Subjectivism asserts that moral questions are inherently subjective. According to Max Weber, subjectivism has permeated the world, leading to instrumental rationality (the ability to adapt means to our purposes) while diminishing evaluative rationality (the ability to justify our positions).

Emotivism

Emotivism, influenced by David Hume, claims that moral statements primarily express emotions and feelings. The perceived wrongness of an act is rooted in the sentiments it evokes. In the 20th century, emotivism evolved to emphasize expressing feelings and influencing others.

Autonomy

Moral autonomy is the capacity of a person to critically evaluate moral values transmitted through family, education, and other sources, and to make choices free from external or internal coercion.

Amoral vs. Immoral

• Amoral: An amoral person lacks the ability to distinguish between right and wrong and does not feel the need to choose between different possibilities.
• Immoral: An immoral person acts against the norms and mores of the society to which they belong.

Ethics

Ethics, derived from the Greek word "ethos" (meaning custom), is the study of morals. It seeks to determine what is good and how we should act, forming the theory of moral behavior.

Morality

Morality comes from the Latin word "mores," also meaning custom. It refers to the set of moral beliefs and norms that guide a person's actions, orienting them toward what is considered good or evil.

Practical Philosophy

Practical philosophy defines the concepts used to analyze social, religious, legal, economic, political, and moral realities. It encompasses five dimensions:

Dimensions of Practical Philosophy

• Ethics
• Political Philosophy
• Economic Philosophy
• Legal Philosophy
• Philosophy of Religion

Common Elements of These Dimensions

• Philosophical reflection is a type of activity.
• Human action implies freedom.
• Human actions are subject to continuous change.
• The practice is distinguished by its normative character.