Key Terms – Absolutism/Relativism

By the end of this lesson you will:

• Know the difference between ABSOLUTE and

RELATIVE morality.

•Understand the difference between OBJECTIVE and SUBJECTIVE arguments.

* Have analysed the STRENGTHS and

WEAKNESSES of absolute and relative morality.

Card Sort

• In pairs answer the question:• Is it moral to?....

Absolute Morality

• Some things are right and some things are wrong, and these things are fixed for ALL time and ALL people.

• Natural Law

Rich Pictures

• On your whiteboard try and draw absolutism. This is difficult as it is an abstract concept.

Objective

• Not influenced by opinions or feelings.

• It’s impartial.• Based on external facts or logic.

Strengths & Weaknesses

• ..\Resources\Lesson 2 - Absolute morality strengths and weaknesses.flipchart

Relative Morality

• In pairs, read the extracts about relative morality.

• Using the information, select key words and concepts from the text to create a mind-map to show what ‘relative morality’ is.

• Then … write a definition for it in no more than two sentences.

• You have got 4 minutes. Go!

Rich Pictures

• On your whiteboard try and draw relativism. This is difficult as it is an abstract concept.

Subjective

• Judgments based on personal opinion and not on fixed rules.

Strengths & Weaknesses

True or False

Eskimos allow their old people to die by starvation

• TRUE

In Taiwan a third of all funeral processions feature a stripper.

• TRUE• Strippers are used to allure people

to attend the funeral. It’s believed that the more people who attend the funeral, the more the dead person is honoured!

In New Zealand a brother and sister may marry each other.

• FALSE

The Dobu of New Guinea believe that stealing is morally right.

• TRUE

In Barbados, it’s illegal for anyone, to dress in camouflage clothing.

• TRUE• Camouflage

clothing is reserved for the police and the Barbados Defence Force.

Every Spanish man must pass a qualification in bullfighting.

• FALSE

A tribe in East Africa once threw deformed infants to hippopotamus.

• TRUE• Is this practice much

different to abortion in our society in cases of disability.

In Muslim countries, polygamy is allowed.

• TRUE• A man is allowed to marry up to four

wives.

There are some societies that make it a duty for children to kill their ageing parents (sometimes by strangling).

• TRUE• Yet most countries have not

legalised euthanasia.

The Callatians, an Asian tribal people, eat the bodies of their deceased parents.

• TRUE

Lesson Re-Cap

• Do you know the difference between ABSOLUTE and RELATIVE morality?

• Do you understand the difference between OBJECTIVE and SUBJECTIVE arguments?

• Have you analysed the STRENGTHS and WEAKNESSES of absolute and relative morality?