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2 ideas
4243 | Our ability to react to an alien culture shows that ethical thought extends beyond cultural boundaries [Williams,B] |
Full Idea: The fact that people can and must react when confronted with another culture, and do so by applying existing notions, seems to show that ethical thought of a given culture can always stretch beyond its boundaries. | |
From: Bernard Williams (Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy [1985], Ch. 9) | |
A reaction: Hardly conclusive, but it does seem to show that there is an element of universalising in values, no matter how local you may consider them to be. |
4244 | It is very confused to deduce a nonrelativist morality of universal toleration from relativism [Williams,B] |
Full Idea: Some people believe a properly relativist view requires you to be equally well disposed to everybody's ethical beliefs, but this is seriously confused, as relativism has led to a nonrelativist morality of universal toleration. | |
From: Bernard Williams (Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy [1985], Ch. 9) | |
A reaction: Good point. This need not stop a relativist from passionately defending tolerance - it is only that the lack of rational support for the passion must be recognised. |