Relativism
Highlights
- We believe, or say we believe, that all people have a right to their own opinion-except those who hold that some opinions are better than others (though we believe that our opinion about them is better than their opinion about us). Our academic culture holds to the tenets of moral relativism while marginalizing those who apparently violate its rules against insensitivity, intolerance, and political incorrectness. We want to have our cake and eat it too.
- Immediately following these comments, a distressed young woman in the audience raised her hand and asked me the pointed question, "Who are you to judge?" This question, of course, was not meant to be answered. It was not an inquiry from someone seeking after truth but rather was a rhetorical question. For the young lady was really saying: Dr. Beckwith, you have no right to make moral judgments about individuals or society.
Though the question was not intended to be answered, I responded anyway: "I certainly do have a right to make moral judgments. I am a rational human person who is aware of certain fundamental principles of logical and moral reasoning. I think I'm qualified." This response absolutely shocked her. I continued, "Your claim that I have no right to make judgments is itself a judgment about me. Your claim, therefore, is self-refuting.'
- For to deny the existence of universally objective moral distinctions, one must admit that Mother Teresa was no more or less moral than Adolf Hitler, that torturing three-year-olds for fun is neither good nor evil, that giving 10 percent of one's financial surplus to an invalid is neither praiseworthy nor condemnable, that raping a woman is neither right nor wrong, and that providing food and shelter for one's spouse and children is neither a good thing nor a bad thing.
Relativism
Highlights
- We believe, or say we believe, that all people have a right to their own opinion-except those who hold that some opinions are better than others (though we believe that our opinion about them is better than their opinion about us). Our academic culture holds to the tenets of moral relativism while marginalizing those who apparently violate its rules against insensitivity, intolerance, and political incorrectness. We want to have our cake and eat it too.
- Immediately following these comments, a distressed young woman in the audience raised her hand and asked me the pointed question, "Who are you to judge?" This question, of course, was not meant to be answered. It was not an inquiry from someone seeking after truth but rather was a rhetorical question. For the young lady was really saying: Dr. Beckwith, you have no right to make moral judgments about individuals or society.
Though the question was not intended to be answered, I responded anyway: "I certainly do have a right to make moral judgments. I am a rational human person who is aware of certain fundamental principles of logical and moral reasoning. I think I'm qualified." This response absolutely shocked her. I continued, "Your claim that I have no right to make judgments is itself a judgment about me. Your claim, therefore, is self-refuting.'
- For to deny the existence of universally objective moral distinctions, one must admit that Mother Teresa was no more or less moral than Adolf Hitler, that torturing three-year-olds for fun is neither good nor evil, that giving 10 percent of one's financial surplus to an invalid is neither praiseworthy nor condemnable, that raping a woman is neither right nor wrong, and that providing food and shelter for one's spouse and children is neither a good thing nor a bad thing.