Are there moral absolutes?

A Refutation of Moral Relativism by Peter Kreeft seeks to answer the question, “Are there moral absolutes?”

"The issue may be the single most crucial issue of our time, the most practical issue, since it makes the greatest difference to our lives." Pg 13 

Dr. Kreeft carefully crafts his argument by defining terms, explaining the history and introducing the data. He then refutes arguments for relativism from various appeals, such as self-esteem, social conditioning, tolerance and evolution. He examines the roots of relativism (reductionism) and then begins his argument for absolutism. He ends by summarizing the cause and cure of relativism. All this he accomplishes via a series of interviews between two fictional characters: a crotchety old man Muslim fundamentalist interviewed by a sassy Black feminist reporter. The material is intense, and just when you think your head is going to explode (that’s a technical term…) he lightens the mood with humor between the two friends.

The following is a brief summary of the arguments FOR moral absolutism. What Kreeft has thoroughly explained and refuted, I am ruining with my brevity, so for more information, please- see his book! It comes highly recommended!

1. CONSEQUENCES- The consequence of moral relativism- do whatever feels good- is doing whatever feels good. The consequence of moral absolutism- do the right thing- is doing the right thing. “Absolutism makes saints and relativism makes sinners.” (pg. 138) Many sinners have been absolutists, “but not a single saint has ever been a moral relativist.” (pg. 138)

Furthermore, “no saintly society has ever been based on moral relativism. Just compare societies founded on the principles of moral relativists like Mussolini and Mao with societies founded on the principles of moral absolutists like Moses and Muhammad. Compare them in their quantity of life as well as their quality of life.” (page 138)

2. CONSENSUS- “Nearly everyone who has ever lived has been an moral absolutist. To be a relativist you have to be a snob, because you have to believe that nearly all of the human beings who have ever lived in this world, especially the greatest sages and saints and prophets- they have all based their lives on an illusion, a fantasy, a myth.” (Pg. 139)

3. He continues with arguments from moral experience, moral argument and moral language. I will skip these for now and focus on logical and practical self-contradiction.

4. LOGICAL SELF-CONTRADICTION- “The alternative to absolute morality is not some other kind of morality…but no morality at all, just feelings, or conventions, or consensus, or games, or social approval.” (Page 145)

5. PRACTICAL SELF-CONTRADICTION- Essentially- moral relativists do not practice moral relativism. They say “no fair!” when they suffer an injustice just like everybody else. The very act of teaching moral relativism is to convince us that relativism is right and absolutism is wrong- but that assumes and declares there IS a real right and a real wrong- which is absolutism!