~Pose and analyze a hypothetical situation based on your position on Relativism
~Explain why Relativism is or is not a reasonable approach to ethics
Relativism is a philosophy that all aspects of life are relative to one another making all points of view equally valid. All aspects of life are relative and the truth is decided by cultural standards. Whether it be the culture of a particular High School, or the culture of a country.
I believe that life is made up of relativism and concrete truth I am therfore an Anti-Relativist. In life there are some concrete Truths for instance, murder is never right unless in pure self defence. It is also never right to harm another person, animal, plant or thing physically or emotionally. Accidents and mistakes will happen but intentionally harming another being is wrong no matter what. On top of the few concrete Truthe, there are many relative truths for instance in Kenya a husband is expected to give his wife's family a dowry at the marriage ceremony. (http://family.jrank.org/pages/1010/Kenya-Concept-Marriage-Family.html) In the United States, this is not a common expectation but that is OK because no one is being harmed either way. Some people prefer to eat jam on their toast and some people prefer butter these are relative truths defined bu that persons state of mind. Relative truths are always open to the possibility of change. One- hundred years ago is was Truth to say that traveling to the moon was impossible. Today that is not so because people have gone to and from the moon several times. On the other hand, there are people who believe that moon travel is a conspiracy and that it is still today impossible. I think it is OK for them to believe that, they are not hurting anyone or imposing injustice so, why not? 
Most people would agree that stealing or lying is Bad. I think that these and many other actions can be justified based on the circumstance. If a robber breaks into Jim's house, asks Jim at gun-point where his children are sleeping, and Jim lies to the gunman than his lie is justified by his saving the life of his children. When humans are placed under intense circumstances, as we often are, the line of wright and wrong becomes more relative. For example: If Jim lives in a country that has been experiencing drought for over 2 years and he steals a loaf of bread to feed his starving family the fact that he stole is overshadowed by his intention to save them.
Most people would agree that stealing or lying is Bad. I think that these and many other actions can be justified based on the circumstance. If a robber breaks into Jim's house, asks Jim at gun-point where his children are sleeping, and Jim lies to the gunman than his lie is justified by his saving the life of his children. When humans are placed under intense circumstances, as we often are, the line of wright and wrong becomes more relative. For example: If Jim lives in a country that has been experiencing drought for over 2 years and he steals a loaf of bread to feed his starving family the fact that he stole is overshadowed by his intention to save them.
Life overall is very relative but, there are some Truths that can be applied to all reaches of humanity. There are some things that everyone has in common. Love and pain are two examples but I am sure there are more. Relativism is not a reasonable approach to Ethics because it has no authority or starting ground to say that some things are right or some things are wrong. In Relativism all things are right and wrong at the same time, which does not make sense.
Learn more about Relativism: http://www.moral-relativism.com/
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