Question

"Mohandas Gandhi once wrote: 'The golden rule of conduct, therefore, is mutual tolerance, seeing that we will never all think alike and we shall see Truth in fragments and from different angles of vision. Conscience is not the same thing for all. Whilst there, it is a good guide for individual conduct, imposition of that conduct upon all will be an insufferable interference with everybody's freedom of conscience.'

"How would an ethical subjectivist respond to Gandhi's words? Is Gandhi arguing from a position of ethical subjectivism or ethical objectivism? Support your answer."

Answer 1

It appears as though Gandhi is arguing from a position of ethical objectivism. Although he acknowledges that individuals differ in their perceptions of morality and their conscience, he emphasises the existence of an eternal and universal Truth. In ethical objectivism moral values and virtues are intrinsic, not dependent on anything outside of them. Gandhi adopts this view as well, as the Truth, according to him, is uncreated and not subject to any human will.