A Study of Relativistic Theory of Ethics in the Light of Islamic Theory of Morality

Abstract

Every civilization has a system of ethics that defines their values and morality. The basic concepts of "Good" and "Evil" are also derived from that system. This system of ethics gains its inspiration from the world view of that particular civilization. Islam, like all other religions, also give a complete moral code for its believers. Qur’ān and the Sunnah here is the only criterion for determining the basic principles of the Ethics of Islam and hence morality in Islam is objective as well as absolute. In the post-modern world however, the morality and value system that got endorsed by Postmodernist thinkers is relative and subjective instead of absolute and objective. Morality here is largely considered as relative as well as subjective and hence vary with change in time and space. It can also undergo through evolution and no act or concept can be judged here on some absolute criterion. This “Relativism” and “Subjectivism” potentially challenge all the traditional schools of ethics. This paper would study whether this relativistic theory of ethics have any compatibility with Islamic fundamentals regarding ethics. This research paper is based on descriptive method along with primordial focus on Moral Relativism.
 Keywords: Epistemology, Islamic value system, Meta-narratives, Moral relativism, Postmodernism, pluralism