Moral Relativism

noun phrase

/ˈmɒr.əl ˈrel.ə.tɪ.vɪz.əm/

The philosophical position that moral judgements and ethical standards are not universally valid but are relative to the cultural, historical, or individual context in which they are formed; it holds that there are no objective moral truths that apply across all societies and times, which has implications for cross-cultural governance and universal human rights frameworks

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

The debate over female genital cutting illustrates the tension between moral relativism — which would defer to the cultural practices of communities that perform it — and universal human rights norms that condemn it as an absolute violation of bodily autonomy.

Synonyms

cultural relativism (moral dimension)ethical subjectivismsituational ethics

Antonyms

moral universalismmoral objectivismnatural law theorymoral absolutism

🌱 Word Family

moral relativism (n phrase), relativism (n), relativist (n/adj), relative (adj), morality (n)

🔡 Root

Latin moralis = concerning manners/character (mos = custom) + Latin relativus = having reference (relatus = brought back, from referre) + -ism = doctrine suffix

📜 Etymology

Philosophical relativism was discussed by ancient sophists (Protagoras: 'Man is the measure of all things'); moral relativism as a systematic position developed through cultural anthropology (Franz Boas, Ruth Benedict) and post-modern philosophy; it is contrasted with moral universalism underpinning human rights law

🧠 Memory Hook

MORAL RELATIVE: morality is RELATIVE — what is right RELATES to your culture, time, and place, like a RELATIVE who changes opinion depending on the situation

🧭 Ethics & Integrity 📖 Seen in: Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude — Complet...

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