Natural Moralities A Defense of Pluralistic Relativism [Paperback]

In this book, David B. Wong defends an ambitious and important new version of moral relativism. He does not espouse the type of relativism that says anything goes, but he does start with a relativist stance against alternative theories such that there need not be only one universal truth. Wong proposes that there can be a plurality of true moralities existing across different traditions and cultures, all with one core human question as to how we can all live together.

Introduction
Part One: How Pluralism and Naturalism Make for Natural Moralities
1. Pluralism and Ambivalence
2. Pluralistic Relativism
3. Objections and Replies
Part Two: Constraints on Natural Moralities
4. Identity, Flourishing, and Relationship
5. Community and Liberal Theory
6. Does Psychological Realism Constrain the Content of Moralities?
Part Three: Having Confidence in Our Moral Commitments
7. Moral Reasons -- Internal and External
8. Morality and Need
9. Coping with Moral Difference
Bibliography

David Wong has written a wonderfully thoughtful, subtile, and sophisticated book that is a defence of metaethical relativism.... One can only wish that the sort of sensitivity and acumen on display inNatural Moralitieswere to be found more frequently in both philosophical and 'real world' moral discouse. --Paul Bloomfield,Mind

Wong writes carefully and insightfully on a wide variety of topics. But the unifying theme is moral relativism, and this book makes a claim to being the most systematic and persuasive defense of moral relativism that has yet been written. Professor Wong has written a work of major importance. Any future discussion of moral relativism, or against, will need to take his arguments into account. --Christopher W. Gowans,Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews

This is an exemplary study in the manner of the position it defends: pluralist, emló"