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Full Version: Strategies for teaching moral relativism with climate and privacy cases
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I'm an ethics professor designing a new seminar that will examine moral relativism through the lens of contemporary global challenges like climate change obligations and digital privacy norms, where conflicting cultural and national value systems are in direct tension. While I want students to grapple seriously with the philosophical underpinnings of relativism, I'm concerned the course could inadvertently validate a kind of intellectual paralysis where all positions are seen as equally valid, shutting down meaningful debate. For educators who have taught similar material, how have you structured discussions to help students critically engage with relativist arguments without dismissing them outright, yet still foster constructive dialogue about universal ethical principles or human rights that might transcend cultural boundaries? I'm looking for specific case studies or pedagogical approaches that make these abstract debates concrete and actionable.