The Thomistic Institute
What's Wrong With Moral Relativism? w/ Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P. & Prof. Francis Beckwith
Jan 18, 2024
Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P. and Prof. Francis Beckwith discuss moral relativism, controversial moral questions, natural law, and the connection between relativism and religious practice. They also explore the concept of worship and religious beliefs.
44:13
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Quick takeaways
- Relativism does not automatically lead to tolerance and can actually result in intolerance as well.
- Relativism challenges the existence and importance of the natural law, undermining its claim on human behavior and dismissing its significance.
Deep dives
The Motivation behind Embracing Relativism
Relativism is often embraced due to a fear of people believing they are right and the harmful actions that belief can lead to. Some argue that if people stop believing in their own rightness, there will be fewer atrocities in history. However, this perspective fails to acknowledge that relativism does not automatically lead to tolerance. Relativism can actually lead to intolerance as well. The argument from tolerance often used to defend relativism is flawed because tolerance and relativism are not inherently linked. The motivation behind embracing relativism is rooted in the belief that being too sure of one's own views can lead to oppression and harm.
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