This assignment prompt asks students to discuss the concepts of relativism and uncertainty in ethical claims, and to consider whether there are any counter-examples that challenge the idea that there is no certainty in ethical claims.

Relativism and Uncertainty
Can it really be true that there’s no certainty to be found in any ethical claims? If so, why does it seem so easy to find counter-examples? Child abuse? Torture? Betrayal? – or are you uncertain about those?
A note from the professor:
Each week the professor will offer some questions to initiate the discussion. Feel free– to reply, and to critique other contributions. A careful analytical exchange allows understanding to grow.
The professor has posted questions about the readings as a way of starting discussion. Probably you should think of those as a start point rather than an end point.
Important Reminder: !!
The Discussions are designed to encourage engagement and debate. To strengthen student understanding and analysis of the course materials. As with the writing assignments, all the activity is between you and the various texts and other materials, but with the added wrinkle that you’re primarily engaging. For reasons both social and technical, please do not introduce any external voices, and especially any introduced as somehow authoritative.
The Discussions offer the opportunity to introduce your tentative analysis and theoretical reflection. Discussions arent a place for googling what other people might say about an issue being posed, nor for any pose of your lecturing the rest of the class. No one is in a position to settle issues that are inevitably subtle and complex. Conclusions are not really at issue: the intellectual process certainly is.