MCAT® ExamCritical Analysis and Reasoning SkillsHard
A philosopher argues that ethical truths are not absolute or universally applicable, but rather depend on the cultural, historical, and individual context in which they arise. This viewpoint implies that there is no single, objective standard for morality. This philosophical position is best described as:
- AMoral Relativism
- BVirtue Ethics
- CDeontology
- DConsequentialism
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Moral Relativism
Moral relativism asserts that moral judgments are true or false only relative to some particular standpoint (e.g., a culture or historical period) and that no single standpoint is uniquely privileged over others. The description directly aligns with this definition.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Virtue ethics emphasizes character and moral virtues, rather than rules or consequences.
- C. Deontology focuses on duties or rules, asserting that certain actions are inherently right or wrong, regardless of consequences.
- D. Consequentialism judges the morality of an action based on its outcomes or consequences.
Moral Relativism
Moral relativism is the philosophical position that moral judgments are not universally true or false, but are true or false only relative to some particular standpoint, such as a culture or historical period.
- Opposes moral absolutism and universalism.
- Can apply to individuals (subjectivism) or cultures (cultural relativism).
- Implications for cross-cultural ethical evaluation and moral progress.
Memory trick: RELATIVES have their own rules, not universal ones.