An enquiry into contemporary relativism: arguing in favour of irrealist metaethics

Abstract

This project will firstly set out to argue that relativism is a viable and defensible stance which can be taken up in many contemporary philosophical debates. This will be achieved firstly by drafting an overview of the lineage of relativist theories; a pivotal task, due to the fact that there is no clear “school” of relativism – as there is in other areas of philosophy. Of course, the history of this theory is perhaps more a history of attempts to refute it than anything else. For this reason, it will be crucial to address some of the many concerns that have been voiced about the implications of a relativist approach over the years. Once these matters have been sufficiently addressed, there will be solid ground on which this project may build a unique moral perspective. Ultimately, it will be argued that relativism is an available stance within moral irrealism and that a moral irrealist relativism would be an attractive position to take up in contemporary metaethical debate.