Question

Louis Pojman, “Ethical Relativism vs. Ethical Objectivism”–Explain the difference between ethical objectivism and absolutism, as these terms are defined by Pojman.

Sources Allowed:

Louis Pojman, “Ethical Relativism vs. Ethical Objectivism”, pp. 520, 525 - 526;

also see David Wong,Natural Moralities, p. xii on the difference between“ moral universalism” and“moral absolutism”.

Answer 1

Ethical Relativism is a term that suggests that there is no universal moral principles but they are very specific to cultures and each culture should respect the moral principles of other cultures whereas Ethical Objectivism suggests that morality and ethical principles are universal and everyone has got the same moral principles all over the world. Ethical absolutism on the other hand suggest that moral principles shouldn’t be overridden at any cost. It says that moral principles should be strictly observed even if one has to lose his life.