Philosophy Metaethics Questions Long
Moral subjectivism and moral relativism are two distinct positions within the field of metaethics that address the nature of moral judgments and their objectivity. While both positions reject the idea of moral objectivity, they differ in their understanding of the basis for moral judgments and the scope of their application.
Moral subjectivism posits that moral judgments are ultimately grounded in individual subjectivity. According to this view, moral statements express the personal attitudes, emotions, or preferences of individuals. In other words, moral judgments are subjective and vary from person to person. For example, if someone claims that "stealing is wrong," a moral subjectivist would interpret this statement as merely expressing the individual's personal disapproval of stealing, rather than making an objective claim about the inherent wrongness of stealing. Therefore, moral subjectivism emphasizes the role of personal opinion and individual perspectives in shaping moral judgments.
On the other hand, moral relativism argues that moral judgments are not solely based on individual subjectivity but are instead shaped by cultural, societal, or historical factors. According to this view, moral standards and values are not universally applicable but are relative to specific cultures, societies, or historical periods. Moral relativism acknowledges that different cultures or societies may have different moral codes, and there is no objective standard by which to judge one moral code as superior to another. For instance, if a moral relativist encounters a cultural practice that seems morally objectionable, they would refrain from making absolute moral judgments and instead seek to understand the cultural context that gives rise to such practices. Moral relativism emphasizes the importance of cultural diversity and the recognition of different moral perspectives.
In summary, the main difference between moral subjectivism and moral relativism lies in the basis for moral judgments. Moral subjectivism asserts that moral judgments are rooted in individual subjectivity, while moral relativism argues that moral judgments are influenced by cultural, societal, or historical factors. While both positions reject moral objectivity, moral subjectivism emphasizes personal subjectivity, whereas moral relativism highlights the relativity of moral judgments to different cultural or societal contexts.