Absolutism vs Realism
Absolutism and relativism are two extreme ethical approaches to reality. While they are both valid and supported by facts, they are very contrasting in their views. Values are what a person cares about and thinks is worthwhile. For example, values can include life, love, religious faith, freedom, relationships, health, justice, education, family and many other things. Usually these values are what provides the passion in a person's life, and gives them hope and a reason for being. A person might go to any lengths to protect what they feel is right and to preserve these values. Values can be divided up into two subcategories: absolute and relative. Absolute values deal with conventional ethics. In absolutism, everything is certain. Relativism, on the other hand, is more subjective. It includes concepts such as utilitarianism and idealism. Relativism stresses the idea that nothing is certain. These two ideals are extremes when approaching reality and values. An ethical absolutist believes that there is a single or universal moral standard that is equally applicable to all people at all times, and each society must adhere to them. There is one moral law, one universal code, and one eter
Immanuel Kant and his categorical imperative support the absolutist's opinions. Kant, a German philosopher, was one of the greatest thinkers of all time, and his writings are widely used to study ethics and morality. According to him, to possess moral worth is more important than to possess intelligence, humor, strength or any other talent of the mind or body. He feels that moral worth has absolute value. When faced with a moral decision, one test of a moral act is to ask oneself, "Is this the kind of act that everyone should perform?" This question can determine whether a given principle is moral and objective or merely subjective. Halpin, James. Good Conversation: An Invitation to Moral Disclosure. Simon & Schuster Custom Publishing. Needham, Massachusetts, 1997.
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1322
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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