Moral Subjectivism

1.      What do you view as the chief strength of moral subjectivism?   Why?  What do you see as the chief weakness of moral subjectivism and why? Give concrete examples to illustrate your points. (make sure to explain what moral subjectivism involves/its key definition). How do the clips from Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing show some of the cracks with moral subjectivism?

2.      Explain why Benedict’s ideas fit under the category of ethical relativism. What do you see as a pro and con of her position and why? (use specific examples to make your case) According to Ruth Benedict, we cannot really become critical of our own mainstream cultural normalities.  But if you try to assess U.S. society from an outsider’s point of view, what values and practices might be open to question?  Do you think anything can be learned from such criticisms?

3.     Do you interpret Alice Walker’s Possessing the Secret of Joy as a vindication or a refutation of ethical relativism?  Why? (Be sure to raise some concrete details from the narrative and how they can relate to the theme of ethical relativism).