Foundationalism in Moral Rules and the Problem of Relativism

Abstract

In this paper we undertake a deep critical analysis of the foundations of moral principles. In it we have established that moral rules guiding human conduct are derivable from either the precepts of some religious belief system, societal norms or from the contemplative dispositions of the individual. The conclusion drawn from this study is that most moral rules can hardly be universal in nature because of the diversity of the foundations upon which such rules are based. Hence, relativism remains a challenge in the attempt to universalize principles of morality.

LWATI: A Journal of Contemporary Research, 8(2), 267-273, 2011