I really feel that relativism's declaration that no absolutes exist is seriously wrong. Moreover, it limits its own reliability, because it contradicts itself by claiming that nothing is definite(i.e. it itself is not a definite philosophy) So in a way, I think it's a paradox that perverts the truth. You agree?
2006-09-19 17:48:43 · 9 answers · asked by zeromeyzl 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Relativism is only easy for people to say is useful and commendable until cannibals move in next store and start eyeing their children with bibs tied around their necks.
Relativism is one of the badges of honor of so-called freethinkers. They believe that they have reached a pinnacle of wisdom and tolerance by claiming that there are no moral absolutes, and that indeed some cultures or topographies, even, make certain abhorrent practices quite reasonable.
Again, until the unlicensed medical practitioner shows up to do a clitorodectomy on their 12-year-old daughter.
Yes, it does contradict itself by claiming that nothing is definite. But it shames itself--which is more important--by claiming that nothing is wrong in every circumstance.
2006-09-19 17:54:33 · answer #1 · answered by Gestalt 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Place yourself 100 million light years from earth. You're alone, and you will never be able to return to earth again. You come upon a planet where all the plants would poison you and only one type of animal-like creature is edible for you. It is clear that this species is sentient. (They have a language that you cannot understand, but nonetheless, they are communicating.)
What does Christianity tell you that you are to do? Kill and eat these creatures or starve? Is it relevant at all? If somehow you did surive (perhaps by scavenging graves), what would be your moral standard to live under? The ethics of the planet's inhabitants or your Christian morals?
I hope you can see why relativism is an important philosophy to at least address. It recognizes that there is no good or evil, only what is helpful and harmful. It by no means justifies everything, but instead recognizes that there are perspectives & contexts that can change the best ethical choice.
2006-09-20 01:05:19 · answer #2 · answered by NHBaritone 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Relativism is a strategy to get out of disagreeing with anyone. It's for people who avoid conflict at all costs. By thinking this way they can pretend to agree with everyone, while secretly thinking that the other person is wrong.
2006-09-20 00:53:14 · answer #3 · answered by Dysthymia 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If there is no God then there are no absolutes. If there are no absolutes then there is no such thing as right and wrong. Right and wrong are just whatever the culture defines them to be in a Godless society. Our christian culture says you're supposed to love your neighbor. Some cultures down in the amazon say you're suppose to eat your neighbor. A government can define right and wrong just by man made law that is not based upon anything higher. But man has a natural bent toward evil. It's inherent in him. If you don't agree with that, your argument is not with me but with 6000 years of human history. Being bent toward evil he will always water down those laws because those laws are not based upon anything but the governments opinion. It's not as if God has established those laws and man always wants to be free to live in any licentious manner he pleases.. Eventually, you come to one of two end results: 1)the morality keeps getting watered down and watered down until you have anarchy in your nation because no one has any morals. 2)You need more and more force to enforce those man made opinions(laws) that are not based upon anything ultimate(God) and pretty soon you have a totalitarian government. So you always end up with one of two end results.....either you end up with anarchy or a police state.
Francis Schaeffer, that great christian philosopher, used to say that liberals always bring on the thing they hate most......totalitarianism. What he meant was that they keep whittling down the morality in a nation until the only way you can keep order is with storm troops and a gestapo.
Mao Zedong understood this perfectly well. He said " the only real morality is at the point of a bayonette. In his society that was true. He was a communist and his state was atheistic. An atheistic state doesn't allow for a God. As I said at the beginning....if there is no God there are no absolutes......if there are no absolutes there is no such thing as right and wrong ........if there is no such thing as right and wrong then sooner or later you will need bayonettes to keep the peace.
2006-09-20 01:19:08 · answer #4 · answered by upsman 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Agree.
=
2006-09-20 00:53:41 · answer #5 · answered by Pashur 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
But on the other hand, absolutism doesn't work either. Because then EVERYONE believes that his or her way is THE RIGHT way, and everyone else is wrong.
I guess we're stuck.
2006-09-20 00:53:02 · answer #6 · answered by ralph w 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
you try to find an absoloute that cant be refuted, religion was created by man to control others, and thats what they are still doing with it. grow up
2006-09-20 00:52:46 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Relatively speaking, I don't but my family does.
2006-09-20 00:52:36 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
OK, ummmm..... schnigeldoriphenhoppen!
2006-09-20 00:55:23 · answer #9 · answered by keepitsafe2think 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋