Real Relativism and Morality
Jeff MacDougall
SOC 120
Instructor Tirizia Lorene York
February 25, 2013
Everything that Lenn Goodman argues makes a great point. Lenn Goodman sees the morality and lack of morality in the lives of different cultures, which is what makes this world a good and a bad place. Away for the sake of gaining respect or wealth, Goodman basically discusses that every person whether it be man, woman, or child has the rights to live and be free from any and all inhumane treatment.
Relativism is the idea that one’s beliefs and values are understood of one’s society culture or even one’s own individual values (Mosser, 2010). With that being said everyday a person ...view middle of the document...
(Matthew, 7:12, Standard Version). I believe this to be the best way to look at the situation on any of these issues.
Some Moral Minima, based on different sociology dissertations, morality has been an issue that many societies globally have been trying to contend. This term is used to describe the code of acceptable behaviors in given context or society. On the other hand moral minima is a word that goes hand in hand with mortality. This essentially sets a standard or rather a principle by which the members of a society have to adhere to so that they may be considered to be operating within the limits of proper moral conduct. The advent of civilization has given room to various forms that moral minima can be derived. As such, morality has become an issue that is interpreted in different ways depending on the angle at which one looks at it. Therefore, this has given rise to at least three areas where mortality is supposedly received or obtained. Morality can be considered relative to the laws of a given nation so that what the law stipulates as right then is morally upright. Morality is also be said to have also been derived from religion, where the various religion affiliations have their own holy books by which members are believed to behave in a certain manner. Finally, it is the personal source of morality. This is what has sparked a lot of controversy as is subject to millions of interpretation and understandings.
Consequently, this is what I believe triggered influential philosophers like Lenn Goodman to an argument that there are some things, which are certainly wrong. In Goodman’s argument, Goodman confirms the existence of four fundamental and universal things that fall under the category of wrong and unacceptable acts in society-moral minima. First is genocide that encompasses politically instigated famine and germ warfare. Second is the act of terrorism that also includes kidnapping and child labor force especially as warriors. The next category is polygamy, and that may also be extended to cover slavery and incest. Rape and female genital mutilation are also another...