• To understand key terms
  • objective
  • subjective
  • descriptive (or empirical) statements
  • evaluative (normative) statements
  • relativism
  • absolutism
• Familiarity with Dr. Liptak's bridge from relativism to objectivism

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Which is better and why?
Plain M&Ms or M&Ms with peanuts? Coke or Pepsi?    Real Oreos or generic cookies? Wal-Mart beef or Stop & Shop beef?  Burger King or McDonald's?

Is it just a matter of taste, or individual opinion (subjective)?
Is there any objectivity (facts)?

Many things are just a matter of taste - for example, a preference for spicy Mexican food over Asian foods.

Are there some items that are more than a matter of taste and custom? For example, some cultures might clean out their plates to show they loved the food while others may leave some food behind to show they received an ample supply of food.   On a deeper level, although different cultures may eat differently, each is striving for the same, higher good: showing appreciation and respect 

When it comes to ethics, some individuals may perform different actions, like bowing, shaking hands with the left hand, taking off one's hat, or covering one's head; however, on a deeper level  what appears to be different or opposite actions  is not so different after all. In a sense, each individual's actions is the same, it is an action of respect.

What are descriptive (empirical) statements?
Think of these as  factual beliefs, or information an encyclopedia would report, or as what can be seen on  digital media  with the sound off

• Examples of descriptive/empirical statements:
  • Dark Chocolate M&M contain more cacao and flavanoids
  • This  black designer bag is made of real leather & the imitation  knockoff is made of vinyl.
  • Dick is yelling at Jane.

What are evaluative (normative) statements?
These are statements that evaluate the empirical data one has acquired. Think of these as a commentary on a video.

• Examples of evaluative (normative) statements:
  • People should eat dark chocolate M&Ms , whether they prefer them or not, because these are healthier for them
  • Dick should not be yelling at Jane.
  • This imitation bag really looks cheap and ugly. People should not purchase knock-offs.

These are evaluative statements. They indicate good & bad, right & wrong, better or worse. These statements make a judgment. Ethical statements that judge an action are  evaluative.  These statements can judge  everything from every-day personal ethical actions like, "Dick should not be yelling at Jane all the time" to news items like "  It is [not] justifiable to consign  murderers like Menendez to life imprisonment, nor is it justifiable to imprison those involved in cock fighting and dog fighting."

What is another name for Normative Ethics?
Normative ethics is also known as prescriptive ethics because there is an interest in setting up a value system and of  prescribing what people should do and how people should behave.  All ethical systems are prescriptive (egoism, Kantianism, utilitarianism...).

What is relativism?
The view that   moral truths are not absolutely true but true relative to a particular society or individual. Whether something is right depends on the moral norms of a society  or of the individual.

What is absolutism?
The view that  there is only one set of correct moral standards, applicable to all. There is only one single truth.   
Moral rules and principles are absolute and  without exception. They are not context driven.

What is Liptak's  bridge from relativism to absolutism

Some individuals claim ethics is so culturally bound, that there are no objective truths and no deeper truths.  When asked, "Can anything be said objectively about ethics, or is it all subjective?  " they answer "Everything is culture bound. There are no objective truths. Absolutely everything is relative."

Can one make the jump from saying, "It's all a matter of taste, it's all relative,  like the taste of  M&Ms" to saying, "There is more than taste, there are some ethical judgments to be made"?

How does one argue that not all is a matter of taste, that there is a deeper level, - that there are some inviolable objective truths and principles in this world? How does one build a bridge from relativism to objectivism? 

One bridge, per Dr. David Liptak is asking the following question:
"Is  abuse, sexual or otherwise, of an innocent young child  always evil? "

If the answer to this question is "Yes,"  then Dr. Liptak contends this proves there is at least one inviolable objective principle. This opens a bridge of dialogue.  If there is one absolute, let us discuss it and see if we can reason to yet  another absolute truth. 

Dr. Liptak  suggests asking the child abuse question to bridge the gap from relativism to absolutism.

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Summary of Terms to Know
Absolutism	The thesis that  there is only one set of correct moral standards, applicable to all. There is only one single truth.   A relativist may say it's OK for me to  compliment you on your dress when I hate it, whereas an absolutist might say, "Always tell the truth. There are no exceptions."
Descriptive empirical statements	Statements which describe rather than evaluate.
Evaluative normative statements	These are statements that evaluate the empirical data one has acquired.
Objective	Expressing or dealing with facts or conditions as perceived without distortion by personal feelings, prejudices, or interpretations
Relativism	The view that   moral truths are not absolutely true but true relative to a particular society or individual. Whether something is right depends on the moral norms of a society  or of the individual. A relativist may say it's OK for me to  compliment you on your dress when I hate it, whereas an absolutist might say, "Always tell the truth. There are no exceptions."
Subjective	Modified or affected by personal views, experience, or background  [a subjective account of the incident.]