Absolutism v. Relativism Absolutism and Relativism Represent

Absolutism v. Relativism

Absolutism and relativism represent the extreme ends of the ethical discussion of reality (Harman, 2000). They describe the approach that individuals adopt to make value decisions in their lives. Values are the sustenance of human life that provide passion and meaning and are often the motivation that keeps society cooperating toward a common goal. How these values are determined, however, is not done consistently throughout society (Bloomfield, 2003). On the one end of the spectrum are the absolutists who view every ethical situation in life as being a certainty while on the other end are the relativists who view things much more subjectively. For the relativist, nothing is certain.

For the moral absolutist there is a single or universal standard that is equally applicable to everyone. The absolutist believes that there is one moral law all must obey and that there are no gray areas. Everything is black and white, right or wrong. The consequences of any action are irrelevant. The moral absolutist, when faced with a moral decision, would ask himself, "Is this the kind of act that everyone should perform?" For the absolutist, there is no subjectivity. Everything in life with moral overtones is determined objectively (Veatch, 2003).

The other end of the spectrum from moral absolutism is moral relativism. Relativists view every life situation uniquely and believe that circumstances can alter moral decision making and that there are exceptions to every rule (Foote, 2002). For the relativist, everything is not black and white. There are gray areas that make moral decision making a difficult process. Unlike the moral absolutists, the moral relativists do not believe that there is always a right and wrong moral view and that it is possible that both sides to the issue can be right or wrong. For the relativist it is the consequences of the decision that make it right or wrong. There is no moral imperative for the relativist.

Although there are many different kinds of relativism they share two common characteristics: 1) that everything is relative to some viewpoint; and, 2) no viewpoint is superior to any other. Moral relativism and epistemological relativism represent two types of relativism. Moral relativism asserts the relativity of moral values while cognitive relativism asserts the relativity of truth.