Question

Do relativism and subjectivism generate contradictions? Why might someone accuse the theories of doing so? How could a relativist or subjectivist respond?

Answer 1

Subjectivism means ethical morals that is based on personal feelings and emotions, while relativism means the difference in ethics from culture to culture. These theories generate contradiction when the same ethical principle is accepted and refuted at the same time. For example- An individual who is against brutalities to animals has no ethical dilemma in consuming beef for which the animal would had been brutally killed. Similarly, culture that practices severe form of patriarchy in which honor killing of females, rape to maintain dominance, and female genital mutilation is practiced cannot accepted under cultural relativism. A relativist or subjectivist cannot defend certain universal ethical principles that are to followed by every individual and every society. As the individual who is against brutalities to animal must not eat beef when their ethical principle is so. The violence against female cannot be defended in the light of cultural relativism.