Measuring Morality A Comparison of Ethical Systems

In our ethically-ravaged culture, morality has become a major concern. Indeed, one’s view of ethics plays perhaps the most crucial role in life, for it is in the demonstration of moral values that life’s most important experiences are weighed. An ethical system must be able to stand up to philosophical and scientific investigation, and at the same time conform to reality. MEASURING MORALITY carefully weighs four major views of ethics that have been offered by various disciplines without the relativistic camp. Analyzing them in light of the laws of logic and real-life experience, Lutzer shows that they are not relativistic at all. Rather, they are autonomous. Through a subjective decision, they replace the traditional ethic of Western culture with other moral absolutes. The discussion then turns to an examination of traditional ethics. The author shows that the values and philosophical implications of the Judeo-Christian ethic are still worthy of consideration in a society dominated by humanistic systems. In this second edition (formerly titled THE NECESSITY OF ETHICAL ABSOLUTES), a new appendix explores the ethics of New Age beliefs.