Philosophy

In philosophy, moral relativism is the position that moral or ethical propositions do not reflect absolute or universal truths but instead are relative to social, cultural, historical or personal references, and that there is no single standard by which to assess an ethical proposition's truth. Relativistic positions often see moral values as applicable only within certain cultural boundaries or the context of individual preferences (Moral Relativism). An extreme relativist position might suggest that it is meaningless for the moral or ethical judgments or acts of one person or group to be judged by another, though most relativists propound a more limited version of the theory. This essay will discuss various kinds of ethics and the people who define them.

What is ethics? The word ethics is derived from the Greek work ethos, which refers to the character and sentiment of the community and standards of behavior (wikipedia.com). Any group can set its own ethical standards and then live by them or not. Ethical standards, whether established by an individual, a corporation, a profession, or a nation, help guide a person's decisions and actions. The commonly accepted definition of ethics is rules or standards that govern behavior and decision-making.

Virtue ethics descends from the classical Hellenistic tradition represented by Plato and Aristotle, in which the cultivation of virtuous traits of character is viewed as morality's primary function. (Ross. W. D, 12). The virtue ethics relies on correct motivational structure.

Utilitarianism is the idea that the moral worth of an action is solely determined by its contribution to overall utility, that is, its contribution to happiness or pleasure as summed among all persons. Utilitarian ethics are based on the idea that everything we do should be for the outcome of the greater good (Waller, 87). The debate for the utilitarian ethical perspective goes against the Kantian ...