Practice Flashcards
Flip to reveal answersMoral relativism?
Track your progress — Sign up free to save your progress and get smart review reminders based on spaced repetition.
All 8 Flashcards — Relativism vs universalism
Sign up free to track progress and get spaced-repetition review schedules.
Question
Moral relativism?
Answer
The view that right and wrong depend on your culture or situation — no single morality stands above them all.
Question
Universalism (about morality)?
Answer
The view that some moral principles hold for everyone, everywhere — e.g. needless cruelty is wrong wherever it happens.
Question
Relativism's tolerance appeal?
Answer
It seems humble and anti-arrogant: 'who am I to judge another culture by my standards?'
Question
The 'can't condemn cruelty' problem?
Answer
If each culture is right by its own lights, we can't call another's cruelty wrong, and its reformers become the rule-breakers.
Question
How does relativism handle moral progress?
Answer
Badly — if each culture is right for itself, abolishing slavery isn't 'progress', just a different culture; that seems clearly wrong.
Question
The self-undermining objection to relativism?
Answer
'Don't impose your morality on others' is itself a universal rule — so relativism assumes the universalism it denies.
Question
Can a universalist still be humble?
Answer
Yes — you can hold that cruelty is universally wrong while staying curious and respectful about how other cultures live.
Question
Why does tolerance itself point to universalism?
Answer
'You should respect other cultures' is a rule offered FOR everyone — a universal value, not a relative one.
Read the notes
Full study notes for Relativism vs universalism
Topic 4.2 hub
Meta-ethics
More from Topic 4.2
All flashcards in this topic
Philosophy exam skills
Paper structures & tips
Track your progress with spaced repetition
Sign up free — Aimnova tells you exactly which cards to review and when, so you remember everything before your IB exam.
Start Free