Ethics and Cultural Differences Argument
Regan/Cahn
1. Why does Regan believe moral disagreements are not just disagreements in preferences?
2. According to Regan, why is it obvious that when someone says “Charity is good” she doesn't mean simply “I think charity is good”?
3. Why does Regan think statistics and opinion polls cannot help us identify moral truths?
4. What problems does Regan think arise from basing our moral judgments on the word of God?
5. What does Regan say could possibly establish someone's authority regarding moral judgments?
6. Why does Cahn think that belief in God does not necessarily make our moral obligations clear?
7. “If God exists, then we can at least know that murder is wrong.” Does Cahn agree or disagree with this statement? What reasons does he give for his opinion?
8. To whom does Cahn say people have often turned to throughout history to tell them God's will?
9. What crucial moral issue was the central question of Plato's dialogue Euthypro? What do Cahn and Socrates agree is the correct answer to this question?
10. Does Cahn believe that people who deny the existence of God can be highly moral? Why or why not?
Rachels
1. What cultural practice of the Callatians shocked the Greeks? What did Darius think about the differences between these two cultures?
2. What does a cultural relativist believe about universal moral truth?
3. What is the “cultural differences argument?”
4. Does Rachels think the cultural differences argument is sound? Why or why not?
5. According to the cultural relativist, which society is morally superior: a society which allows forced slavery, or a society which treats all people as free and equal?
6. What does Rachels think cultural relativism would mean for the notion that societies gradually improve over time?
7. Rachels says that cultural relativism has a simple test for judging right and wrong. What is this test? Why does Rachels find this test disturbing?
8. According to Rachels, what is the
1. Why does Regan believe moral disagreements are not just disagreements in preferences?
2. According to Regan, why is it obvious that when someone says “Charity is good” she doesn't mean simply “I think charity is good”?
3. Why does Regan think statistics and opinion polls cannot help us identify moral truths?
4. What problems does Regan think arise from basing our moral judgments on the word of God?
5. What does Regan say could possibly establish someone's authority regarding moral judgments?
6. Why does Cahn think that belief in God does not necessarily make our moral obligations clear?
7. “If God exists, then we can at least know that murder is wrong.” Does Cahn agree or disagree with this statement? What reasons does he give for his opinion?
8. To whom does Cahn say people have often turned to throughout history to tell them God's will?
9. What crucial moral issue was the central question of Plato's dialogue Euthypro? What do Cahn and Socrates agree is the correct answer to this question?
10. Does Cahn believe that people who deny the existence of God can be highly moral? Why or why not?
Rachels
1. What cultural practice of the Callatians shocked the Greeks? What did Darius think about the differences between these two cultures?
2. What does a cultural relativist believe about universal moral truth?
3. What is the “cultural differences argument?”
4. Does Rachels think the cultural differences argument is sound? Why or why not?
5. According to the cultural relativist, which society is morally superior: a society which allows forced slavery, or a society which treats all people as free and equal?
6. What does Rachels think cultural relativism would mean for the notion that societies gradually improve over time?
7. Rachels says that cultural relativism has a simple test for judging right and wrong. What is this test? Why does Rachels find this test disturbing?
8. According to Rachels, what is the