2014-2-PHI110-05

__NOTITLE__ Studying 2014/2 PHI110: Philosophy, Morality and Society. Week 5. Undertaken Study Period 2, 2014. Content is quoted and/or summarised from the university website in fair dealing for purpose of research or study. See also: StudyWISE and AIMS.

Cultural Diversity and Moral Relativism

This week, we begin the second section of the unit, focussing on meta-ethics and meta-ethical questions.

This week, we examine the relativist challenge to normative ethics. Are some actions right or wrong absolutely, or should the truth of moral claims be considered relative to a culture?

Links

Herewith a list of further reading:

• Bernard Williams
• Henry James
• Henry James and the Zeitgeist
• Moral universalism
• Moral absolutism
• Ruth Benedict
• David Wong

Lectures

Lecturer for section 2: Dr Mianna Lotz.

• Lecture 9
• Lecture 10

Notes

• Week 5: Lecture 9 (original)
• Week 5: Lecture 10 (original)

Questions

• Reading questions for week 5 (original)

Readings

Readings downloaded from e-Reserve.

• Benedict, Ruth. "A defence of moral relativism (extract)" in Vice and Virtue in Everyday Life: Introductory Readings in Ethics, Sommers, Christina; Sommers, Fred, 1993, 160-167 (original)
• Midgley, Mary. "Trying out one's new sword (extract)" in Vice and Virtue in Everyday Life: Introductory Readings in Ethics, Sommers, Christina; Sommers, Fred, 1993, 174-179 (original)
• Williams, Bernard. "Interlude: Relativism" in Morality: An Introduction to Ethics, Williams, Bernard, 1976, 34-39 (original)
• Wong, David. "Relativism" in Companion to Ethics, Singer, Peter, 1993, 442-450 (original)

Answers

TODO: answer the reading questions.

Activities

• Self Test Quiz - Week 05 Cultural Diversity and Moral Relativism
• Discussion forum for Week 5: Cultural Diversity and Moral Relativism
• Week 5 review: What have you learnt? (original)

Work

TODO

Things to do, most important on top:

• Read the Questions
• Read the Readings
• Answer the Questions
• Do the Activities

Done

Things that are done, most recent on top:

• Read the Lecture notes
• Listen to the Lectures

Glossary

Herewith a list of new and/or interesting words and selected definitions:

normative

normative

Of, relating to, or prescribing a norm or standard: normative grammar.

Giving directives or rules; prescriptive. Opposed to descriptive.

descriptive

descriptive

Involving or characterized by description; serving to describe.

Concerned with classification or description: a descriptive science.

Grammar Expressing an attribute of the modified noun, as green in green grass. Used of an adjective or adjectival clause.

Grammar Nonrestrictive.

Linguistics Of or relating to the study or the description of a language or a specific stage of a language, with emphasis on constructing a grammar without regard to historical development, comparison with other languages, or advocated norms for correct or proper usage.

metaethics

metaethics

The study of the meaning and nature of ethical terms, judgments, and arguments.

The descriptive study of philosophical ethical systems, especially with regard to their key concepts, techniques of reasoning and analysis, and linguistic conventions.

meting

meting

Present participle of mete.

Measuring.

mete

mete

To distribute by or as if by measure; allot: mete out justice.

Archaic To measure.

A boundary line; a limit.

demarcate

demarcate

To set the boundaries of; delimit.

To separate clearly as if by boundaries; distinguish: demarcate categories.

enculturation

enculturation

the process by which an individual adopts the behaviour patterns of the culture in which he or she is immersed.

unregenerate

unregenerate

Not spiritually renewed or reformed; not repentant.

Sinful; dissolute.

Not reconciled to change; unreconstructed.

Stubborn; obstinate.

dissolute

dissolute

Lacking moral restraint; indulging in sensual pleasures or vices.