Ethical Absolutism

Definition

Ethical absolutism is the belief that there are universal, objective moral principles that are always valid and applicable, regardless of the specific circumstances or consequences. It holds that certain actions are inherently right or wrong, and that these moral standards do not change based on individual preferences or cultural norms.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Ethical absolutism is often associated with deontological ethical theories, which focus on the inherent rightness or wrongness of actions rather than their consequences.
2. Proponents of ethical absolutism believe that there are certain moral absolutes, such as the wrongness of murder or the obligation to keep promises, that must be upheld regardless of the situation.
3. Ethical absolutism is in contrast to moral relativism, which holds that moral judgments are relative to the individual or culture and that there are no universal moral truths.
4. Ethical absolutists argue that without objective moral standards, there is no way to condemn even the most heinous actions, such as genocide or torture, if they are deemed acceptable within a particular cultural context.
5. Critiques of ethical absolutism suggest that it can lead to inflexibility and a failure to consider the nuances of complex moral dilemmas, where the right course of action may not be clear-cut.

Review Questions

• Explain the key principles of ethical absolutism and how they differ from moral relativism.
  • Ethical absolutism holds that there are universal, objective moral principles that are always valid and applicable, regardless of the specific circumstances or consequences. It believes that certain actions are inherently right or wrong, and that these moral standards do not change based on individual preferences or cultural norms. This is in contrast to moral relativism, which holds that moral judgments are relative to the individual or culture and that there are no universal moral truths. Ethical absolutists argue that without objective moral standards, there is no way to condemn even the most heinous actions, while moral relativists contend that moral judgments must be made within the context of a particular cultural or individual framework.
• Analyze how ethical absolutism is often associated with deontological ethical theories and the implications of this connection.
  • Ethical absolutism is frequently associated with deontological ethical theories, which focus on the inherent rightness or wrongness of actions rather than their consequences. Deontologists believe that there are certain moral absolutes, such as the wrongness of murder or the obligation to keep promises, that must be upheld regardless of the situation. This aligns with the ethical absolutist view that there are universal, objective moral principles that are always valid and applicable. However, critics of ethical absolutism suggest that this can lead to inflexibility and a failure to consider the nuances of complex moral dilemmas, where the right course of action may not be clear-cut. The connection between ethical absolutism and deontological ethics highlights the tension between upholding moral absolutes and the need to account for contextual factors in moral decision-making.
• Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of ethical absolutism in the context of 11.2 Committing to an Ethical View.
  • In the context of 11.2 Committing to an Ethical View, the strengths of ethical absolutism lie in its ability to provide clear, unwavering moral guidelines that can serve as a foundation for ethical decision-making. Proponents argue that without objective moral standards, there is no way to condemn even the most heinous actions, which is crucial when individuals or organizations are faced with difficult ethical choices. However, the weaknesses of ethical absolutism are that it can lead to inflexibility and a failure to consider the nuances of complex moral dilemmas, where the right course of action may not be clear-cut. In situations where multiple ethical principles are in tension, ethical absolutism may struggle to provide guidance on how to navigate these tradeoffs. Ultimately, the commitment to an ethical view must balance the need for moral absolutes with the recognition that ethical decision-making often requires careful consideration of context and consequences.

Related terms

Deontology: An ethical framework that judges the morality of an action based on the action's adherence to a rule or rules, rather than the consequences of the action.

Moral Relativism: The view that moral judgments are relative to the individual or culture, and that there are no universal moral truths.

Moral Realism: The belief that moral facts and properties exist independently of what any individual or culture believes, similar to the way that scientific facts exist independently of beliefs.