- Question
Is morality relative?
Morality informs countless aspects of our lives, from the way we interact with others to the way we think about ourselves. But does our concept of morality objectively reflect absolute ideals of good and evil, or is it a shifting, arbitrary rulebook that varies from culture to culture?
Yes, morality is relative
This position holds that morality is relative. It argues that ideas of right and wrong have shifted dramatically over time and vary by culture and context, that morality functions as a survival tactic, and that moral norms often serve the powerful majority.
It doesn't matter
This position holds that whether morality is relative or absolute simply doesn't matter. It argues morality's origins have little real impact on daily life, since people must follow moral norms regardless—and some hold there is no such thing as morality at all.
No, morality is absolute
This position holds that morality is absolute, not relative. It argues that an objective moral order exists beyond any particular time, place or culture — grounded variously in God's will, the consistency of core moral standards across history, or Kant's categorical imperative.