Final answer:
b. Ethical relativism suggests moral values vary by culture and rejects universal moral standards, while the social contract implies mutual obligations between individuals and the state, essential for upholding rights and freedoms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Ethical Relativism and the Social Contract
When discussing ethical relativism in the context of the United States, it is important to note that this concept does not promote universal moral values. Instead, ethical relativism argues that moral rightness and wrongness vary from society to society, with no absolute universal moral standards binding on all men at all times. This supports cultural diversity in morals and suggests that each society determines its own moral compass based on its culture and traditions. It can be challenging when it comes to finding common ground in ethical debates, as it often appears to undermine the possibility of reconciling different moral viewpoints.
On the other hand, the social contract is an essential concept in ethical and political philosophy. It is far from irrelevant in ethical discussions. The idea of the social contract posits that individuals surrender certain natural rights and accept moral and political obligations for the benefits of a structured society. The legitimacy of this contract relies on the state's ability to protect the rights of its citizens and maintain the general will. When a state fails to uphold these standards, according to social contract theorists like Jean-Jacques Rousseau, citizens have the right to withdraw their obligations to that state.
Historically, social contract theory has been used to justify certain unjust practices, such as slavery and colonialism, by arguing that conquered peoples or those deemed incapable of reason were not entitled to the protections of the state. However, the same theory forms the basis of important documents like the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, espousing ideals of rights and freedoms even as contradictions persisted.
Normative Ethical Relativism and the social contract often come into tension, especially when societal norms contradict the ideals of universal human rights. Yet, the dynamism of ethics and morality allows for continuous debate and evolution of social norms, as evidenced by historical criticisms and moral reforms initiated by societal minorities.