Ethical Absolutism & Relativism

ABSOLUTISM

RELATIVISM

Hard Absolutism /

Soft Absolutism /

Cultural

Ethical

Ethical

Universalism

Universalism

Relativism

Subjectivism

Nihilism

Values are objective

There are universals

Values are culturally

Values are determined

There is no such thing

and apply to all

but they are subject to

determined and vary from

by individuals and are

as "right" or "wrong".

persons and situations

exceptions and must

one culture to another.

relative to situation and

without exception.

be flexible.

No viewpoint is morally

context.

superior to the other.

Ex: Kant's duty ethics

Ex: Ross' prima facie

Ex: Benedict (anthropology)

Ex: Rand's ethical egoism

Ex: Nietzsche

duties.

Skinner (psychology)

Ex: Divine command

ethics

Ex: Rule Utilitarianism

Ex: Gilligan and Raugaust

Ex: Act Utilitarianism

(gender ethics - male and

female reasoning is

Ex: Cultural Universalism

different but equal)

Ex: Aristotle's Virtue Ethics

(i.e. universals exist but

they are expressed

differently in different

Ex: Sartre and Camus

cultures; Kluckhohn,

(existentialism)

Kroeber, Asch)