Relativism and Morality Essay

There are moral choices made on a daily basis, no matter the culture or race, people make these types of choices. The moral choices we make based on our cultures can be viewed on a scale of right and wrong by other cultures. In the writing of “Some Moral Minima”, Lenn E. Goodman views several aspects of morality and relativism, and argues that certain things are just wrong. I must say that I agree with her when she says some things are just wrong, and in this paper I will state my opinions on some of the challenges Goodman presents to relativism. The first topic I am going to speak on is terrorism.

In the article “Some Moral Minima,” Goodman asked the question why is terrorism wrong. Of course I think that terrorism is wrong. There are so many reasons that we the people that terrorism wrong and that it should be against the law. “Terrorism is willful targeting of non-combatants, aiming to intimidate and attract attention. It is a war crime, since war, if just at all, seeks only to block an enemy’s ability to make war. ” (Goodman,2010) No one should be targeted because of a war that is happening, killing innocent people just because of their race, or because of their culture.

According to Goodman, “Terrorism today is a manufactured claim to authority and authenticity, ethnic or regional autonomy, or the imposition of Shari ’ a law and haqq penalties on diverse and diversely inclined populations. ” (Goodman,2010) Other than the topic I just finished discussing, Goodman also addressed more areas in her articles. Just to mention a few, she discussed, (1) hostage taking and child warriors, (2) Slavery, Polygamy, and Incest, (3) Rape and female genital cutting , and (4) genocide, politically induced famine, and germ warfare.

These areas that she discussed are some major problems areas for many nations and cultures around the world. I am going to discuss these areas more in depth beginning with genocide, politically induced famine, and germ warfare. If you are like me I really did not know what the term genocides meant. I had to look up the word and came to the conclusion that genocides mean that violent crimes committed against groups with the intent to destroy the existence of the group. While discussing genocides, Goodman asked the question, “Why is genocide uglier than murder?

” She also answered the question by saying that, “The answer lies in the intent, not just the scale of the crime. Clearly, more dreams are broken and more futures cut short when more lives are taken. But genocide targets individuals as members of a group, seeking to destroy a race, a culture, a linguistic or ethnic identity, even a class. ” I agree with Goodman because I do not think it is up to us to determine whether a group or a specific individual should not be in existence. We do not have the right to kill people because of the group they belong to or because of their beliefs.

I think we all were put on this earth for a purpose and a reason and it is not up to man to kill off the group members or destroy a race or culture. Even though it is happening around the world, I do not think that it should. That’s why I solely agree with Goodman on the things she said concerning this topic. Genocide, politically induced famine, and germ warfare are acts of murder and murder is wrong because it is the destroying of a human subject. A right that human beings have is to be alive and to live at our own free will. The next issue I am going to touch basis on is rape and female genital cutting.

Rapes happen every day, not only are females but males are raped as well, but it happens more to the female population. Rape is a violation of another person’s will. A person does not have to be touched to be raped and there is more than one kind of rape. Even though I feel all cases of rape are bad, but in my opinion statutory rape is the worst. To harm a young person that has no power to stop their predator is just plain sad. Rape is wrong because it stands at the extreme limit of a continuum of sexual acts, from the most committed to the least so, and the most alienating.

Rape is exploitative, objectifying, and, yes, again violative. (Goodman,2010) The last issue I am going to address is slavery, polygamy, and incest. Theses last acts are very bad and may be the worst in my book. Slavery is an issue that I really hate to discuss because as I have done plenty of research I would find myself in tears due to some of my findings. But slavery keeps its victim alive while stripping her of agency, assigning it to others who do not share her projects, hopes, or interests, but subordinate her capabilities to their wants.

(Goodman,2010) I think beating people and discriminating against them because of the color of their skin is a very cruel act that should have never happened. Then there is polygamy. I do not like to talk about other cultures but I think polygamy is wrong as well. I think a marriage should have only two members and no more. Being married to more than one person should not be allowed no matter what culture you come from. The bible says that, “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing” (Proverbs 18:22) not whoso findeth many wives or husbands.

Again I say I do not think that polygamy should not be happening. In conclusion to this paper, I think that Lenn E. Goodman made some very good points in her article, “Some Moral Minima”. I can conclude this paper by saying that I agree with her opinions and I think that this article was very helpful. References Mosser, K. (2010). Introduction to ethics and social responsibility. San Diego, Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Goodman, L. E. (2010). Some moral minima. The Good Society, 19(1), 87-94. Retrieved from the EBSCO Host database in the Ashford Online Library Proverbs 18:22 King James Version.