If morality is always relative to one’s own society, then…
““If morality is always relative to one’s own society, then you, coming from your society, have your moral standards and I, coming from my society, have mine. It follows that when I criticize your moral standards, I am simply expressing the morality of my society, but it also follows that when you condemn me for criticizing the moral standards of your society, you are simply expressing the morality of your society. There is, on this view, no way of moving outside the morality of one’s own society and expressing a transcultural or objective moral judgment about anything, including respect for the cultures of different peoples. Hence if we happen to live in a culture that honors those who subdue other societies and suppress their cultures, then that is our morality, and the relativist can offer no cogent reason why we should not simply get on with it.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Moral relativism claims all ethics are culture‑bound, making universal criticism impossible.
In simple terms: Morals differ by culture.
Key Takeaway
Question cultural assumptions critically.
Themes
ethics
relativism
culture
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
debate
When to use this quote
- international policy
- human rights advocacy
- education curricula
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
objectivity
cultural critique
Questions to Reflect On
- Can we find common moral ground across societies?
- How to balance respect with critique?
A Different Perspective
Moral judgments may still be biased by one’s own culture.