1.  How does Stace initially describe ethical relativism?

2.  Stace clarifies his explanation of ethical relativism saying first that it is NOT ‘merely’ the view ‘that the very same kind of action which is thought right in one country and period may be thought wrong in another’.  What does he then say that ethical relativism is?  Explain so as to make his clarification clear.

3.  Why is it important, as far as Stace is concerned to ‘grasp thoroughly’ the distinction between the two ideas?

4.  How does Stace describe the view of the ‘genuine relativist’?

5.  Stace says that the relativist denies that there is a ‘single universal objective standard’.  The relativist says that ‘there are no objectively true moral standards at all’.   Explain these denials in your own words.

6.  What is the first argument in favor of ethical relativism that Stace considers?

7.  What is Stace’s objection to the first argument for ethical relativism?

8.  What is your own view of the first argument and Stace’s objection to it?

9.  What is the second argument in favor of ethical relativism that Stace considers?

10.  Stace says that ‘even if we cannot be quite certain precisely what... (the foundations of morality, or rather moralities are) we can at least see in a general way the sort of foundations they must have’.  Explain what he has in mind here.

11.  Stace says, ‘To cherish blind faith in morality may be, for the average man, whose business is to live aright and not to theorize, sufficient.’  Is such blind faith sufficient?  Agree or disagree and defend your view.

12.  What is Stace’s objection to the second argument for ethical relativism?  State you own view of Stace’s argument and defend your view.

13.  What are the points that Stace raises against ethical relativism?  Explain these in detail.
Are these points effective objections to relativism?  Defend your view.

Introduction

1.  How is ‘Ethics’ defined?

2.  Among the ‘problems’ discussed in the study of ethics that are mentioned by the authors are (i),  ‘Is there a basis for  deciding whether any act is right?’ and (ii), ‘How can we prove or disprove that there is such a basis?’.  State your own answers, whatever they happen to be, to these two problems.

3.  Explain the view the authors call relativism.   Explain the distinction between sociological relativism and ethical relativism.

4.  Explain the view that the authors call ethical absolutism.

5.  Which of the two views relativism or absolutism best characterizes your own view?