Moral Pluralism
Moral Pluralism is the notion that various conflicting values may all be equally valid and worthy of respect.
Moral pluralism is a middle ground between Moral Absolutism (“there is only one right answer”) and Moral Relativism (“there is no wrong answer). Be tolerant of others’ moral principles without concluding that all views are equally valid.
Moral pluralists believe that many moral issues are extremely complicated. Thus, no single philosophical approach will always provide all the answers. Moral pluralists analyze issues from several moral points of view before deciding and taking action.
- So shouldn’t we all be Moral Pluralists?
Example
Assume a building is on fire. A woman has the opportunity to rush inside and save the children trapped in the burning building. But in doing this she may die, and leave her own child an orphan. A moral pluralist would conclude that there is no definitive way to decide which is the better course of moral action. Indeed, moral pluralism declares that it is sometimes difficult to choose between competing values.