Are There Universal Standards of Moral Judgment?

Are there universal standards of moral judgment?

I do not believe there are universal moral standards. Since morality implies that there is conformity or total acceptance or adherence to what is right or wrong there cannot be a code of morality that every individual embraces as an equal set of standards. I believe in all societies there are wayward people who have a disregard for humanity and the life of other persons; these people or people groups may believe that those that hold differences from their views should just not exist on the earth; others may simply have a self-centered disregard. All of these differences of opinion or lack of conformity make it impossible for there to be universal moral standards.

I do believe in the U.S. and other democratic societies there may be underlying codes of morality, some governed by law and others may exist as non-spoken alliances; such as helping the poor, protecting and caring for the elderly, helping others you see in need.

Ethical relativism offers a good example of why there are not universal moral standards. As the cultural, political and even religious climate changes in America, Ethical relativism seems to be more and more on the rise as an accepted view; after all, don’t we all need to be tolerant and inclusive to “all” people?  The problem I see with ethical relativism is that it allows the subjective nature of coexisting to override the objective nature of humanity for the sake of all people. If we allow everyone to choose their right or wrong behaviors without standards or boundaries then we will have nothing left but chaos. Where there is no restraint or guide for what is right and wrong collectively will only lead to a society of moral corruption.

What ethical theory do I agree with the most?  I’m not sure I totally embrace any of the ethical theories presented. Based on my beliefs in creation not evolution, and my identity as a born again Christian, I would find that consequentialism would come the...