Moral Relativism Debate Guide
From PhiloWiki
In the 'culture wars' in the United States, religious groups argue that the growth of moral relativism is harming our country. And the Pope calls moral relativism in Europe a 'tyranny' and a 'dictatorship'. Is this a fair characterization? Is it true? Is moral relativism the sign of a healthy civilization or of one in decline (or neither)?
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Moral relativism
Some basic questions are well-known:
- How do we know who is truly right and who is truly wrong?
- Is there absolute good and evil? Can religion be a foundation?
- What is the source of morality?
But where do we go from here?
- Without absolute good and evil, are we left with moral relativism? Or is there something else?
- Is it possible to build a successful political system based upon moral relativism? Or is such a nation-state doomed to failure?
- As Pope Benedict states, is there a dictatorship of moral relativism?
- If Europe continues on its secular path, will this accelerate a transition to an Islamic Eurabia?
- Even if moral relativism is true, why should we care ?
Can moral systems evolve without religion?
- Do the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one?
- What are the implications of the Golden Rule?
- What are the implications of Kant's categorical imperative?
- If the world were secular, would there be nothing more than the law of the jungle - might makes right?
