Study Questions for Ruth Benedict's essay (#43) and for James Rachels's essay (#44), and for the material on Relativism and Absolutism presented in class (see the links below).

You should not consider this list of questions complete until it is here indicated to be complete.  As things arise in class, new questions may be added.  When I have finished adding to this list, I will say so here.
(Dr. Armstrong)

General Questions

G1.  What is the general question about the truth of moral principles, whether it is absolute truth or relative truth, that must be answered by the absolutist and by the relativist.  (Hint:  this is the point about 'something that makes a statement true)

G2.  What definitions are we using for the following terms:  moral absolutism; moral relativism; subjectivism; true-period; true-for; cultural relativism; moral skepticism

G3.  Can a relativist and an absolutist subscribe to the same moral principles?  Explain why/why not.

G4.   Suppose you know that I believe that whether or not an abortion is impermissible depends on the
circumstances.  Do you now know if I am a relativist or an absolutist?  If so, which am I?  If not, why not?

G5.  (Possible extra-credit question) Consider the following objection to relativism:  the relativist is just saying that there is a true-period moral principle that says that it is wrong to morally evaluate people who are not part of one's own culture.  So the relativist is not a relativist after all.  Is this a forceful objection to the relativist.

Benedict Questions

 You are responsible for the Study questions at the beginning of the essay.

B1.  Explain what Benedict thinks "makes moral principles true".

B2.  On page 368, Benedict says, "We do not any longer make the mistake of deriving the morality of our locality and decade directly from the inevitable constitution of human nature."  What evidence has she provided for her implicit claim here that attempts to derive are a mistake?
 

Rachels Questions

You are responsible for the Study questions at the beginning of the essay.

R1.  Present the argument Rachels calls the "Cultural Differences Argument" (CDA).

R2.  Explain the objection to the CDA that Rachels offers.

R3.  What are the consequences of taking relativism seriously, according to Rachels?

R4.  What are some of the values that Rachels suggests must be shared by all societies, if the society is to be possible?

R5.  Explain the difference between what Rachels would mean by universal moral principle (given his discussion in section 6 of his essay, and what we mean by absolute moral principle.

R6.  What are the lessons that might be learned from cultural relativism, according to Rachels?