Final answer:
Accepting the tenets of ethical relativism means that moral standards are determined by cultural norms, which can vary greatly between societies and there is no universal moral truth. this leads to the perception that moral judgments cannot be universally applied and that minority criticisms of prevailing moral views cannot be valid. however this conflicts with both the possibility of moral reforms and the search for fundamental ethical principles that could be universally accepted.
Step-by-step explanation:
If one accepts the tenets of the school of ethical relativism, then it follows that there are no absolute moral standards that are universally applicable to all societies at all times. According to Normative Ethical Relativism, what is considered morally right or wrong is exclusively determined by the cultural norms and values of each society. As such, an action that is deemed moral in one society might be considered immoral in another, and vice versa The theory suggests that morality is a social construct and is therefore subject to the ebb and flow of cultural changes and differences. It poses a challenge to the concept of universal ethics, implying that moral judgments and ethical standards are not fixed but change with societal norms. Consequently, Normative Ethical Relativism cannot consistently uphold the criticism of one culture's moral practices by individuals from another culture or by a minority within the same culture.
However, this view is at odds with the idea that there could be fundamental ethical principles common to all humanity. For example, despite cultural variations, there might be general agreement that unjustified killing is wrong, or that human life has intrinsic value. Furthermore, the failure of the relativistic approach to account for moral progress and reform, as seen in historical critiques of society's predominant views by its minorities, suggests limitations in the explanatory power of the theory. Some philosophers have argued for a third option, beyond moral absolutism and ethical relativism, seeking universal principles through reason that could provide a foundation for a more consistent ethical framework.