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Peter Kreeft

A Refutation of Moral Relativism: Interviews with an Absolutist Paperback – August 19, 1999

by Peter Kreeft (Author)

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No issue is more fateful for civilization than moral relativism. History knows not one example of a successful society which repudiated moral absolutes. Yet most attacks on relativism have been either pragmatic (looking at its social consequences) or exhorting (preaching rather than proving), and philosophers' arguments against it have been specialized, technical, and scholarly.

In his typical unique writing style, Peter Kreeft lets an attractive, honest, and funny relativist interview a "Muslim fundamentalist" absolutist so as not to stack the dice personally for absolutism. In an engaging series of personal interviews, every conceivable argument the "sassy Black feminist" reporter Libby gives against absolutism is simply and clearly refuted, and none of the many arguments for moral absolutism is refuted.

Print length

180 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Ignatius Press
Publication date

August 19, 1999
Dimensions

6 x 0.63 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

0898707315
ISBN-13

978-0898707311
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The only boring aspect of this book is its title, which doesn't do justice to apologist Kreeft's intelligent, engaging dialogue between two fictional friends during a week of relaxation at Martha's Vineyard. Kreeft, philosophy professor at Boston College and author of more than 25 books, describes the absolutist character 'Isa as a Muslim fundamentalist from Palestine who teaches philosophy at the American University in Beirut. His interviewer and sparring partner is Libby Rawls, an African-American, liberal feminist journalist. Using a classic debate format, with impressive fairness to the opposite side, Kreeft defines relativism and its importance. Tracing relativism's evolution and history in Western philosophy, Kreeft notes that relativism is a fairly modern perspective, originating within the last few hundred years. He outlines the philosophical distinctions between it and absolutism with clarity and an integrity that will delight both the layperson and the professional philosopher. For Kreeft, relativism has eroded a collective and individual sense of accountability and contributed to social decay, yet he can see the other side, especially with regard to cross-cultural differences. Although the purpose of the book is to uphold absolutism, Kreeft outlines the relativist perspective in an approachable, respectful manner. By giving counterarguments a fighting chance, this becomes a book that may actually persuade peopleAnot just preach to the absolutist choir. (Nov.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Philosophy professor Kreeft's conceit is that he recently invited two former students (both fictional) to discuss moral philosophy and that this is the record of their conversations. One of the two, a black feminist journalist and moral relativist, interviewed the other, a Palestinian Arab professor and moral absolutist. The sparks start flying in the first session, when the professor characterizes Auschwitz as "the fruit of moral relativism" and quotes Mussolini's explanation of fascism as quintessentially relativistic. The succeeding discussion treats the definition and the history of moral relativism (it began with the serpent's temptation of Eve, it seems), whether data support relativism or absolutism, the arguments for relativism, the roots of relativism in reductionism, arguments for moral absolutism, absolutism's philosophical assumptions (e.g., that truth can be known), and, finally, "The Cause and Cure of Relativism" (sexual mores are key to both). As the title suggests, relativism doesn't stand a chance here. Boredom is a goner, too, as, employing the oldest literary method of enlivening philosophy--casting it, ... ala Plato, as a dialogue, a bare-bones play--Kreeft deftly creates recognizable characters as he advances a debate as important to the future of religion as to that of society. Ray Olson

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ignatius Press; First edition (August 19, 1999)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 180 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0898707315
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0898707311
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.9 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.63 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #471,038 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #846 in Religious Philosophy (Books)
- #1,275 in Christian Apologetics (Books)
- #1,849 in Philosophy of Ethics & Morality

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---"Beauty" -- The branch of philosophy dealing with aesthetics.

---"C. S. Lewis and Mere Christianity" -- C.S. Lewis' masterpiece

--- Charisms: Visions, Tongues, Healing, etc. (feat. Dave Nevins)

---"Christianity in Lord of the Rings" -- The cleverly disguised role of God

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---"Existence of God" -- A magnificent overview of the arguments

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---"If Einstein Had Been a Surfer" -- Rediscovering intuitive thinking

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5

95 global ratings

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4 star		15%
3 star		8%
2 star		4%
1 star		7%

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David DeMay

The exceptions support the rule!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 25, 2023

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The author does a masterful job placing timelines and philosophers that highlight major transitions that bring us into this period of deconstruction. Much more time needed development here. The give and take of the socratic method becomes weighty, dull, redundant and protracted. The interview here is especially important to those interested at all levels of the justice system. Anyone from the local cop to a supreme court justice should recognize the dangers of deconstruction. Anyone who cannot define what a woman is is lost in the forest for the trees.

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Stuart K. Santiago

Moral absolutism is shown to be superior to moral relativism

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 29, 2015

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Professor Peter Kreeft, in "A Refutation of Moral Relativism," introduces the reader to the concepts of moral absolutism and moral relativism through the use of a debate between two fictional characters, Isa, a moral absolutist, and Libby, a moral relativist. Moral absolutism is shown to be superior to moral relativism, as Isa readily refutes every argument advanced by Libby in convincing fashion. For Kreeft, moral absolutism embraces the natural law, those principles which are universal and unchanging, whereas moral relativism holds that morality is something that changes or is relative to one's time period, place, or culture. Only those societies which are based on moral absolutism have any chance of survival.

Professor Kreeft introduces the reader to the structure of moral argument, which requires that there be a major premise comprised of a universal, objective or unchanging moral principle, a minor premise comprised of a factual situation, and a conclusion which is arrived at by applying the moral principle to the factual situation. One must begin with a moral premise in order to arrive at a moral conclusion. This structure is essential for all moral argument.

Professor Kreeft maintains that one is capable of knowing objective and universal truths, which apply to all cultures, nations, times and places. While it is true that a particular culture's mores may differ, the underlying morality that applies to all cultures is always objective, universal and the same. He emphasizes that one must always obey one's conscience, that the rule to be true to one's own conscience is unchanging, and that the absolute authority of one's own conscience comes from God.

For anyone interested in debating the morality of such issues as abortion, slavery, divorce, and the sexual revolution, I would highly recommend this riveting, fast paced drama by Professor Kreeft. Through his characters, Isa and Libby, Kreeft convincingly refutes moral relativism and does so in an entertaining fashion.

4 people found this helpful

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Well Being

This Book Was The Genesis of My True Realization of G-d

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 14, 2009

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Words can't describe how much this book has impacted my life. I knew the recent election of Barack Obama had put such a drain on my life with all the reading I did on him and finding out how much a downward spiral the US, as well as the world, was in. I'm not a tinfoil hat type of guy; there are signs everywhere. Just open your eyes and minds and you will see them.

As a 4th year college fraternity guy, I was in the stronghold of moral deviance and liberalism; a member of a typical illicit drug using, tripping-over-condoms-every-few-steps, lying, cheating, stealing from your own brothers rooms type of frat and also a destructively liberal institution where kids are brainwashed day in day out with what the professor wants- university. Everyone on campus is a Democrat, I was raised Democrat, and Jewish, it just made sense to follow the crowd, right? I never did that though. I always questioned things of argumentum ad populi, and seeked the truth in what was actually going on. I always set my own path, and when I would try to tell people the light I have found in the fallacy of moral relativism and how wrong it is, people would just shrug their shoulders or blow me off.

Moral relativism is the source of all our societal problems today, hand in hand with atheism and political corectness.

I was the posterchild of moral deviance at one point of my college career. But I found the light, and I discovered what was the cause of all this wrong. And I'm changing my ways, going to the Church, and doing incredibly better now.

Read this book, and I pray and hope you receive the same meaning and feeling I did from this book (there are a few other good books on moral relativism too, that could accomplish the same thing). The dialogue of this book and humorous value helped me get through some of the history and tedious parts, but I loved every bit.

Read it today, this is a 5 star book for potential life changes that can occur.

11 people found this helpful

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Corum Seth Smith

More Interviews and Socratic-Style Dialogue

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 3, 2005

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The basic premise of the book is straightforward. Two people are talking about the ideas of moral relativism and moral absolutism. The "Isa" character is a Muslim who believes that there are moral absolutes. The "Libby" character is a feminist who believes there are not moral absolutes.

Moral absolutism is a position in which it is believed that the whole of humanity is obligated to act in certain ways. Moral relativism is the position in which there are no moral universals, or principles that compel all people.

Some of the philosophical concepts that are of interest in this book include: 1) There is a definite connection between epistemology and ethics. If we cannot know moral truths, we should not be expected to live by them. 2) Are the differences in cultures around the world a proof of moral relativism? 3) Which one is more oppressive politically and socially when it becomes the majority paradigm: relativism or absolutism? 4) Can a relativist "preach" about, or attempt to spread, the idea of moral relativism without compromising their ideals?

I couldn't put the book down once I had started it. It is a great review of the "Great Conversation." Like any Kreeft book, you will read about concepts explored in all the big philosophical names: Aristotle, Kieerkegard, etc. I also think he puts forth a convincing argument as to why moral absolutism is true.

12 people found this helpful

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R. Wright

Exposing a trendy, widespread illusion.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 24, 2016

Verified Purchase

This is a very detailed but entertaining study of one of the two key forms of relativism (the other being epistemological relativism - there is no such thing as objective truth). It takes the form of a debate/interview between a professor of philosophy and a reflective knowledgeable ex-student of his, and shows that at any level trendy moral relativism does not work. One point that particularly impressed me was when Peter Kreeft showed that (translating to the British context) progressives (the sort of people who are Guardianistas and support Labour and the Liberal Democrats) cannot be secular. If there is no God, then moral standards are inevitably relative to time and place, there is no fixed external standard to relate to, and therefore we are subject to supporting certain moral preferences rather than others. Not all theists, of course, are progressives (think of Islamic fundamentalists) but all progressives must be theists (otherwise there is no objective, fixed standard to progress to). A first-class antidote to muddled thinking on this issue. Highly recommended.

2 people found this helpful

Héctor Guillermo Muñoz

Buen libro

Reviewed in Mexico 🇲🇽 on October 16, 2018

Verified Purchase

El libro cumple su propósito de explicar el relativismo y sus carencias de una manera profunda, pero amigable para cualquier lector. Aprendí mucho del libro, y creo que cualquiera puede hacerlo también. Mi única reserva es que el formato de diálogo entre los personajes a veces hace que se pierda énfasis en los puntos importantes; tal vez hubiera valida la pena ahondar más en los argumentos y sus ejemplos en lugar de dedicar tantos tantos párrafos a intercambios sin mucho significado.

One person found this helpful

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