Final answer:
The idea of 'soft objectivism' represents a nuanced and moderate position in the philosophical discussion of morality, offering a balance between moral objectivity and the context-dependent nature of moral judgments.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of 'soft objectivism' in philosophy refers to a position on the nature of morality. It can be best characterized as D) A nuanced and moderate position. This approach acknowledges that while moral claims are objective, this objectivity is not as rigid or inflexible as some moral realists might suggest. Soft objectivism can be seen as a middle ground between moral realism, which posits a fully objective morality, and moral relativism, which suggests that morality is always relative and thus subjective to individual or collective perspectives.
According to the course materials, moral realism suggests that morality is objective, not subjective, standing in opposition to moral relativism, which holds that there are multiple valid moral frameworks due to the relative nature of values. Moral skepticism denies the objective nature of morality altogether. Soft objectivism, however, strives for a careful balance, recognizing the potential for moral objectivity while also considering the contextual factors that influence moral judgments, without falling into the naturalistic fallacy of deriving 'ought' from 'is'.