What's Wrong With Moral Relativism? w/ Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P. & Prof. Francis Beckwith

What's wrong with moral relativism? Join Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P. of Aquinas 101, Godsplaining, and Pints with Aquinas for an off-campus conversation with Prof. Francis Beckwith about his latest Thomistic Institute lecture, "Is There Anything Wrong With Moral Relativism?"

What's Wrong With Moral Relativism? w/ Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P. & Prof. Francis Beckwith (Off-Campus Conversations)

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[GilMichelini]

I enjoy listening to these because they stretch my non philosopher mind.

[josephmccormick-qvrs]

I like his illustration at the outest, but my struggle with those who promote moral relativism is that they often subvert truth; they make their case with unbalanced emotions based on bad data, deceit or fallacious syllogisms.

Often, those who promote atheism will resort to something which is untrue to make a case for their cause.

The best and, I feel, most authentic atheists that I encounter are not the ones who tirelessly and emotionally argue against the existence of a being that they say does not exist, the most authentic atheists are those who simply do not care or do not wish to engage in arguments of this nature.

When I find these individuals, then I can rightfully have a sincere discussion with someone who does not believe in a creator. This is a point of view that is unique to me and I seek to hear it out, maybe I can listen to such an individual and, also, maybe I can help to understand and increase my own faith by engaging with such a person.

[marvalice]

My biggest problem with moral relativism is that it's absolutely spineless.
It turns humans into wet socks on a moral level.

[catchacoolbreeze]

Around 19:00 you talked about those that advocate killing the unborn as believing they are not persons....is that true? Or through their relativistic mindset immediately come to the conclusion that killing unborn babies is ok and then just take every argument to justify that position (regardless of whether it's believable or reasonable)?

[alexanderm]

Gosh, could've done a much more full and fair job of steel man-ing the relativism view. He keeps it over simplified and misses key elements of why it is attractive.

[KRGruner]

Very good conversation. However, as usual, I am at a loss to see why people cannot understand the meaning of the word "natural" in "Natural Law." The Natural Law can be derived from facts about nature (including facts about human nature). No need for God in the equation (although it does not exclude it). Until we get that point, bridging the gap between believer and unbeliever will be impossible. The Natural Law is the link, but ONLY if we keep in mind the importance of the word "natural."

[JezuesChavez]

Seems like it’s relativism to deem the Bible the word of God relative to other words in books.

[lmgracie]

A Christian Must be a moral relativist in relation to the culture they live in. Christ is the only absolute, however a Christian should be a pragmatist. Culture absurdist is a Protestant position.

[heavyhitter]

So the only argument I heard in here about why god/gods are necessary for morality is because you feel we need them to tell us to be good tomorrow? Not even going to address how our moral sense clearly changes over time, or how moral teachings are wildly different over time even in the bible? You mentioned abortion as a moral issue, but didn't mention that the bible endorses, and actually commands it in some cases.