What is the difference
between
Absolutism and
Relativism?
Ethical absolutism holds that moral commands are true at all times. This means
that they're true in all cultures and situations. Under this view, actions such as
murder and stealing are seen as objectively wrong, regardless of their
circumstance or results. Therefore, Absolutist moral theories are deontological, as
they do not consider consequences. Examples of absolutist moral theories include
Kant's Categorical Imperative and the Divine Command Theory.
Both absolutism and relativism are philosophical
concepts on moral values. These are two of the
popular philosophical debates under ethics, the
study of morality. Absolutism holds that
standards are always true. On the other hand,
relativism considers the contexts of situations.
Hence, absolutism endorses
equality while relativism advocates equity. The
following paragraphs further delve into such
differences.
What is the difference
between
Absolutism and
Relativism?
Ethical absolutism holds that moral commands are true at all times. This means
that they're true in all cultures and situations. Under this view, actions such as
murder and stealing are seen as objectively wrong, regardless of their
circumstance or results. Therefore, Absolutist moral theories are deontological, as
they do not
consider consequences. Examples of absolutist moral theories include Kant's
Categorical Imperative and the Divine Command Theory.
Absolutism maintains that moral values are fixed regardless of time, place,
and the people concerned.
•
Unlike in absolutism, the value of
tolerance is emphasized in relativism.
•
Unlike relativism, absolutism believes that
values are intrinsically right or wrong.
•
As compared to relativism, absolutism
is more connected with religion.
•
The advantage of absolutism is its ability to
critically evaluate a situation’s morality while
that of
relativism is its capacity to consider gray
areas.
•
The disadvantage of relativism is the
possible reduction of what is morally correct
to being merely socially acceptable while
that of absolutism is not
considering the context.
•
Relativism has major categories while
absolutism has none.
•
Unlike absolutism, relativism
considers consequences.
•
An example for absolutism is Kantian Ethics
and that of relativism is Situational Ethics.
