“He Said WHAT?!”

The subject of moral relativism verses moral absolutism is an issue that is rarely understood or contemplated by most college students. However, it is the underlying issue in many decisions that college students make. From what college individuals attend to the friends they make most all decisions are made based on an individuals moral beliefs. The way we live our lives, our behavior, the way we respond to how we are treated by others, the way we treat others, and the judgments we make reveal our beliefs on right and wrong. For example, most Americans believe that both slavery and the Holocaust were wrong. This is not to say that all individuals living in America actually believe that. However, we not only believe they were wrong, we agree that all Americans should agree with that assertion. There is a logical possibility, however, that we are mistaken and it is our objective cultural conditioning that force us to believe these events were wrong. Fortunately, although this may be logically possible, most Americans would not agree that their intuitions and beliefs on the subject are mistaken. That would mean that owning and torturing other individuals is not wrong, and it is only as a result of objective cultural conditioning that we believe these events were wrong. Now who would admit to believing that?! Even if an individual did believe that owning and torturing other humans were acceptable, most people would not actually admit to holding these beliefs. But why not? Why should an individual be afraid to say how they feel? This is because most people know that such atrocities as slavery and the Holocaust are genuinely, whether viewed objectively or subjectively, wrong.
Nevertheless, who would not lie in that situation? Is lying therefore an absolute moral wrong? No, because ethics are inescapably situational. Although there is general agreement across the moral spectrum that lying is wrong, there are still situations in which it is the morally correct thing to do. However, examples such as this prove to be difficult when assessing moral relativism and moral absolutism. Although my rigid Christian background has sought to instill in me more moral absolutist views on the world, through life’s experiences and mistakes I have formed more moral relativists views on society. However, just like all non-Christians are not moral anarchists, everything in the Christian world is not absolute. Not all Christians are striving for an ultraconservative society. However, the question still remains, what is right and what is wrong? If individuals answered honestly, not only would the answers all be different, the question would still go unanswered for most. Nevertheless, an understanding of the diversity of our society and a general concern for all individuals is the best way to avoid confusion on the subject of right and wrong. If everyone is content and allowed to be themselves while function properly in society, is there really any need have strict definitions on right and wrong? My answer would be, no because it is societies need to over analyze and each persons individual need to feel superior to others, whether intellectually or philosophically, that causes division. However, I could be wrong. That is just my opinion.