Ariadne's Thread on Ethical Relativism
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Ethical Relativism

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Ann Speaking
I don't think the second definition helps us. I'll tell you why. Almost all ethical theorists allow that the right or the good thing to do varies with circumstances.

You gave the example of killing, and I think that's a good one. Here's another: Aquinas held that stealing was wrong in normal circumstances but permissible if you are starving.

There may be some moralists who have denied this sort of thing, but not many. If this were all that ethical relativists were saying, it would be old hat and there would be no controversy.

Ethical relativism cuts much deeper than this.


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