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Re: A predisposition to relativism?
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I venture with some trepidation into the are of ethics. It has always seemed to me to be one step away from Continental Philosophy and the end of civilisation as we know it.
I am very surprised that anyone would be a moral relativist after anything but the most cursory consideration. It looks rather like sitting on the fence between moral realism and moral scepticism. But maybe that is just me.
I think that there might be an inclination to relativism that arises more out of a desire not to offend than any philosophical consideration. Everyone can be right. Ethics as a non-competitive game if you will.
You could consider putting first year undergrads through some sort of Stanford Prison Experiment. That might make them less keen not to offend each other.
Hugs
James
-----Original Message-----
From: "Carl Baker" <devils_avocado@hotmail.com>
To: bups-dis@bups.org
Date: Tue, 3 Oct 2006 10:22:39 +0100
Subject: A predisposition to relativism?
I've just been leading a discussion of a group of first-year undergrads. The topic was moral relativism. Unsurprisingly to me, most of the group are staunch relativists. Why do you think this is? Why are our pre-philosophical opinions so disposed to relativism?
I have some ideas, but I'd be interested to hear what others think.
Carl
Carl Baker
devils_avocado@hotmail.com | jha4ceb@leeds.ac.uk
http://carlonline.blogspot.com
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