Relativism and Morality



Relativism and Morality

Introduction

In Some Moral Minima, Goodman suggests that in the international context, the social values are always influenced by relativism. This relativism is the consequence of the different cultures around the world. He says that there is a difference between relativism and pluralism and that there is a need for people to clearly distinguish the two concepts. On one hand, there are certain norms that are so good they merit global adoption. On the other hand, there are practices that should be abandoned universally. However, in the adoption and condemnation of certain norms and practices there is a need for specificity in terms of regional laws and policies which makes the adoption easier or the condemnation stronger. The paper comments on the idea suggested by Goodman that there certain things which are just wrong.

Discussion

In order to understand whether the claim made by Goodman (2010) is true or not, it is first essential to study the areas that he has regarded as totally wrong. Every human being on the face of the earth has an equal claim to life. Each creature has the as much the right to live as anyone else whose right is acknowledged. Hence, any act of killing such as murder in genocide is completely wrong (Goodman, 2010). There can be no justification for such an act. Humans have certain responsibilities that they have to fulfill. These responsibilities during their stay on this mother earth relate not only to their individual self but also to the society in which they live. Hence, if a certain population around the globe is dying of famine while the other populations are fighting obesity, it is the indifference of the well doing nations towards the deprived that is causing the death of the famine struck ones. Letting die is equal to killing and they are both equally wrong and immoral.

For instance, if we were to take warfare as an example some people may argue that waging a war against the evil is not bad or wrong. Such wars are even allowed in some religions. The question arises who decides who is to die in the war. When two opposing parties attack one and another, they kill anyone and everyone who comes in their way. What about the innocent women and children who die or strive only because the others in their country are fighting. What about the ...