No, it is not moral relativism, it is traditional morality. It is a component of traditional morality to take into account everything which might bear on the application of moral principles in a given situation. Casuistry is the name for the discipline which provides guidance in such moral judgment. For example, if a murderer, seeking his victim, asks you for the victims whereabouts, is it right to lie to him? The answer is yes, it would be worse to answer truthfully and facilitate a murder. This is an example of one of the primary topics of casuistry, namely, what conditions create exceptions to moral rules. For example, a soldier going about his duty is not considered to have engaged in murder, precisely because it is the duty of the ruler to determine when warfare is warranted, and of the duty of the soldier to play his assigned role.
You speak much too disparagingly of democracy.
"I came not to bring peace, but the sword", remember? |
