Ethical Relativism: An Analysis of the Foundations of Morality

Today the issue of relativism is not only an academic subject, it has also become a vital concern in sociology and politics, along with the issue of globalization. This book studies ethical relativism in its most profound and recent forms, and argues that a non-relativist account of morality is capable of validating our moral experiences without undesirable implications. The author demonstrates that, unlike during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, support for ethical relativism is now in decline. He proposes that the most promising strategy is first to settle the issue of the foundations of morality, and then to develop a new theory of morality based on self-love, moral ideals and the process of decision-making. Ethical Relativism brings a fresh perspective to the on-going debate on post-modernism and relativism, and should be of interest to all who study philosophy, theology and cultural studies, and those interested in spirituality.

Mohammad Ali Shomali was born in Iran in 1965. He is a graduate of the seminary of Qum and has an M.A. in western philosophy from the University of Tehran. He earned his doctorate in philosophy from the University of Manchester. His publications include Self-Knowledge (1996).