The present work addresses itself to one of the most hotly debated issues
in contemporary ethics-relativism. Relativism has become a formidable
argument in Western socio-moral thought under the impact of postmodern
writings. The author presents a detailed critique of various relativist and
postmodernist theses, without rejecting some of their empirically justified
observations. She underscores the fact that the intercultural communication
which has been going on since time immemorial puts a question mark to the
postmodernist theories of indeterminacy of translation, incommensurability
of various conceptual frameworks etc.
The author supports cognitivism in ethics according to which the moral
properties of the object of moral judgement do in some way determine or
'cause' that judgment. This view is not to be confused with any realist
ontological commitment. She asserts that universalizability is the
necessary condition of all rational judgments, including the moral ones.
The author also discusses the relationship between self and others; and in
this context she draws upon the insights of ancient Indian thinkers. She
proposes that minimum moral principles and maxims can be agreed upon
through reasoning and intercultural discourse.
Review(s)
"Jhingran's present work is learned and well-argued." - PROF. G.C. PANDE
About the Author(s)
