Week One Discussion

What are some relativistic beliefs that you have or that you find in society?  What are those ethical beliefs and how do people justify those beliefs?  Using the articles from Mary Midgley (see also Rachels’ and Goodman’s articles from the recommended readings), present a critique of those relativistic beliefs.  What reasons do you have for thinking that these beliefs are not consistent? 600 word count.

“it is important to keep in mind the distinction between what is the case (which is description) and what ought to be the case(which is prescription) when doing philosophical ethics. 

Ethics is concerned with the general question of what ought to be the case –how we should behave and how we should act. It is not concerned to describe (or to justify) the way people currently do things. For all we know, the way people currently do things is wrong  — for all we know, that is, until we subject their actions to scrutiny and see if they hold up to examination.”

Mosser, K. (2013). Understanding philosophy. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.