The Thomistic Institute
Moral Relativism and the Natural Law | Prof. Francis Beckwith
Apr 3, 2024
Prof. Francis Beckwith discusses moral relativism and natural law, challenging arguments supporting relativism based on disagreement and tolerance. Topics include abortion debates, natural law theory, enforcing fairness, and the implications of rejecting universal moral standards. The discussion highlights the Catholic Church's perspective on objective morality and the role of human nature in shaping moral beliefs.
47:47
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Quick takeaways
- Moral objectivism asserts universal moral rules like 'Love your neighbor', contrasting with relativism's cultural dependence.
- Challenging the 'argument from tolerance,' the lecture questions relativism's fostering of true tolerance and universal principles.
Deep dives
Moral Objectivism vs. Moral Relativism
Moral objectivism asserts that moral rules are universal and not dependent on personal beliefs, while relativism claims that moral rules vary based on culture and individual perspective. The lecture discusses examples of moral rules such as 'Love your neighbor as yourself' and 'Do not take what is not yours without permission', contrasting them with immoral rules like race-based criminal trial outcomes. The speaker explains that belief in moral objectivism stems from the idea that morality transcends individual opinions, akin to mathematical truths, while relativism views morality as a subjective reflection of societal norms.
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