Ethical Relativism and Calvin and Hobbes
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Calvin states ” See, in order to improve oneself, one must have some idea of whats good. That implies certain values”. I believe Calvin is using Ethical relativism here, meaning he does what is right because his culture states that it is right. And I feel that he is saying basically what you feel is right for yourself is right because its the moral thing to do. I feel that Calvin did not set himself a New Years resolution because he personally feels that everything that he is doing is right all the time, so therefore he did not need a New Year goal. Basically that he does what his culture deems right because he is to tolerate what is right at all times.
I feel that by Hobbes telling him ” I dont know if I can tolerate that much tolerance” He is saying he does not think that he can do right all the time. Therefore he would set a goal for himself. I also feel that he is saying that he does not think that he can tolerate another culture being that he is a stuffed tiger.
Ethical relativism says that whatever the majority deems to be the moral rule, is the proper rule to follow. Meaning whatever majority of your culture says is right is right. If you culture believes that abortion is something that you do on a regular basis if you dont want children and you also dont want to do anything to prevent getting pregnant. Than that is what you do because it is the moral thing to do.
Subjectivism states that the moral views are merely inner states in a person and that they cant be compared to the inner states of another person, so moral viewpoint is valid only for the person who holds it. Therefore, if I was to set a New Year resolution to lose weight. Its ok for me to make that decision because I dont have to compare to any one else in order for it to be the right thing to do. I make the goal within myself cause I myself feel it is the right thing to do.
For an ethical relativist tolerance is good. When Hobbes said he cant tolerate that much tolerance it to me means that he is saying he cant tolerate what the other culture is doing basically because he does not believe in their beliefs.