 objective morality-and who could be so arrogant as to think they had that? I mean, maybe if you were religious you might think you had that. But even then, there are many different religions, and religious teachings require interpretation; and so who could be so arrogant as to think that they, out of everyone in the world, had hit on the one true interpretation of the one true religion? My mother is a social anthropologist, someone whose job it is to study different cultures, and growing up I was keenly aware of the huge differences in moral ideas and outlooks between different human societies. As a kid I'd sit through dinner parties listening to my mum and her anthropology friends swapping stories about the distant peoples with whom they'd lived: the things they'd had to eat (live grasshoppers and stewed goat's placenta were particular standouts), the different kinds of family structures they'd been welcomed into, and the different ideas about ethics and the cosmos that they'd learned about. For as long as I can remember, then, I've known that the ideas I happen to have about things like property, marriage, suicide, homicide, incest, cannibalism, the natural world, and so on, are mostly just local to me and to my little corner of the world. So how could I not have been a relativist? Perhaps I could have believed in a universal, objective morality if I'd been ignorant of the extent of these 2 cultural differences-if I'd somehow thought that everyone in the world shared more or less the same moral ideas as me and the other white, middleclass Londoners in my neighbourhood. But I wasn't ignorant: I had a front row seat at the theatre of human cultural diversity. So to believe in a single true morality I would have had to believe, arrogantly, that somehow I (along with the rest of my 'tribe') had some special access to the moral truth, a special access denied to everyone else on the face of the planet. What could possibly justify this? After all, it's simply an accident of birth that I grew up to have the moral ideas that I have. Had I instead grown up on a Fijian island, or deep in the Amazon basin, or in rural China, I would have had an utterly different moral outlook. Clearly, I had no better claim to the moral truth than anyone else. And that's why I thought moral relativism was obviously true. But I'm not a moral relativist any more. So what
objective morality - and who could be so arrogant as to think they had that? I think of, possibly if you were religious you might think you had that. But even then, there be many unlike religions, and religious teachings require rendition; and indeed who could be so arrogant as to remember that they, out of everyone in the world, had hit on the one on-key interpretation of the one true religion? My mother is a social anthropologist, someone whose problem it is to analyze different cultures, and growing up I was keenly aware of the huge differences in moral idea and outlooks between different human societies. As a child I'd sit through dinner parties listening to my florist's chrysanthemum and her anthropology friends swapping stories about the distant peoples with whom they'd live: the things they'd had to eat (live grasshoppers and stewed goat's placenta were particular standouts), the different kinds of family structures they'd been welcomed into, and the different ideas about ethics and the cosmos that they'd learned about. For equally long as I can commend, then, I've known that the idea I find to have about things like property, marriage, suicide, homicide, incest, cannibalism, the natural world, and so on, are mostly barely local to me and to my little corner of the world. So how could I not have been a relativist? Perhaps I could have believed in a cosmopolitan, objective morality if I'd been ignorant of the extent of these 2 cultural differences - if I'd somehow thought that everyone in the world shared more or less the same moral ideas as me and the early blank, middleclass Londoners in my neighbourhood. But I wasn't ignorant: I had a front row seat at the field of human cultural diversity. So to believe in a individual true morality I would have had to believe, arrogantly, that somehow I (along with the respite of my' tribe') have some special entree to the moral truth, a special access denied to everyone else on the boldness of the planet. What could possibly absolve this? After all, it's simply an accident of birth that I grew up to receive the moral ideas that I have. Had I instead grown up on a Fijian island, or deep in the Amazon basin, or in rural China, I would have had an utterly unlike moral outlook. Clearly, I get no better claim to the moral truth than anyone else. And that's why I thought moral relativism was obviously true. But I'm not a moral relativist any more. So what
 obuective morality-and who gould be so arroyqnt as to thjnk they had that? I mean, maybe if yon weee reoigious you might thiny you had that. Bur evtn then, there are many dinyerenf relngmons, and religipus teachitgs require indefpxetation; and so who could be so arrodant as tl think that trey, ptt or everyone in the world, had hit on the ont true interpretatoon of the one true religiln? Mj mother is a sociwl anthropooogifr, someone whuse job it is to study different cultures, and growing up I was keenli zwwte of the huje difserences in moral idaas and outlooks betwcen dmffeeent human societies. Es a kid I'd sit throogh dinner pcrties listening to mt num atd har avrhrupomojy rriendd sxapping stodies about rhe distant peoples wynn whom they'd lived: tre things they'd had to eat (live grasshokpers and stewed goat's placebta were particular sjandouts), tre different kinds of family structures they'd beet welrooed ikto, xbd the different ideas about ethics and the cosiks tmat they'd learneb about. For as lpnh sf I can rememcer, thzh, J've known that the ideas Y happen to hade anout things like property, mqrriage, suicpde, yomicide, incest, caunibalism, thz natutal wotld, and so on, are mostlv just local to mf and to jh little corner uf nhe forld. So how could I not hwve been e relctivist? Oerhsps I sould have beliceed in a universal, objeetive morality lf I'd been ignorant of the exteiv of these 2 coltgran differznces-in I'd somehow thjught that evetyone in che wofld shared more oc less the swme moral idedd as me and vhe other whire, muddleclxrs Londoners im my neigkyourhood. Vut I wasn't ignorakt: I fzd a front row weau qt the theatre of huiaj rultuwdl diversity. So go crlievd in a singod trie morality I would vave had to believe, artonantly, thqt somehjw I (along wiyh the rest of my 'uribe') iad sooe sprciwl access to the moral truth, a special wcccss denied to evevyong else on tke face of the planet. What could possiblb justify this? After alo, it's simply an accndtnt of birth vhat I grew up do have the moral idwas that I have. Hsd I instead grown up on a Xijiaj island, or deep in the Amazon basin, or in rural China, I would have had ab utteclr different morsl ounlojl. Cleawly, M iad no better clapm to the moral truth than anyonx else. And tkat's why I thought moral relayixism was obviuusly true. But I'm not a joral rekativist any more. So what
objective morality-and who could be so arrogant think had that? mean, maybe if think had that. But then, there are different religions, and religious teachings require and so who could be so arrogant as to think that they, out everyone in the world, had hit on the one true interpretation of the true My is social anthropologist, someone whose job it is to study different cultures, and growing up I was aware of the huge differences in moral ideas outlooks between different human As a kid I'd sit dinner listening to mum her friends swapping stories the distant peoples with whom they'd lived: the things they'd had to eat (live grasshoppers and stewed placenta were the different of structures been welcomed into, different ideas about ethics and the learned about. For as long as I can then, I've that the ideas I happen to about things like property, marriage, suicide, homicide, incest, the natural world, and so on, are mostly just local to me and to my of the world. So could I not been relativist? I have believed a universal, objective morality if I'd been ignorant of the extent these 2 cultural differences-if I'd somehow thought that everyone in shared or less the moral ideas as me the white, middleclass Londoners in But wasn't a row at the theatre of cultural diversity. So to believe a single true morality believe, arrogantly, that somehow I (along with the of my 'tribe') had some special access the moral truth, a special access denied to everyone else on the of the could possibly justify this? After all, it's simply accident of birth that grew up to have the moral ideas that I Had instead grown on a Fijian or deep in Amazon basin, or China, I have an outlook. Clearly, I had no better to moral truth than anyone else. that's thought moral relativism was obviously true. But I'm not a moral relativist any more. So
 objective morality-and who coUld be so arrOgant As tO thInK theY had That? I mean, maybe IF you Were religious you might tHink yOu HAd thAT. BUt eveN then, thERe ARE maNy DiFfeReNT rEligiOns, And reliGious teachIngS rEquire interpREtAtion; and so Who Could be so arrOgaNt as to ThInk THat thEy, oUt of eVeryonE In the wOrld, had hiT oN The one TRue inteRPReTatiOn of the one true relIGiON? My mother is a soCial anThROpOLOgiSt, sOmeone whosE jOb it iS To study DIfFEREnt CUltures, and groWing up I was kEEnlY aware Of The HUge difFerenCeS In mOral ideas anD outLooks betwEen difFErent huMAn socieTies. As A kiD I'd Sit tHRoUgH diNnER paRTiEs lISteNing to my MuM aNd her AnthROPOLogy FriEnds SwappIng stories aboUt tHe diSTanT peopLes wiTh whOm They'd Lived: tHe thiNgS they'd had to eat (lIve gRasshoppeRs aNd SteWeD goat'S PlacenTa wEre ParticuLar stanDOutS), tHE DIfFerent kinds of familY sTRUcTures theY'd been WElCoMEd into, anD tHe dIffeRENt ideAs abOUt Ethics anD the coSMoS tHat they'D lEarned AbOut. for As lonG As I cAn remeMber, then, i've knOWn that the ideas i Happen to have aBOuT THiNGs liKe pRoperty, marrIage, SUiciDe, hoMIcIde, INcest, CanniBaLIsM, The natural world, and sO oN, are moStly jUst local to me aNd to my littLE COrner of tHe woRLd. sO how could I not hAve beEn a relativISt? PerhapS I couLd have beLieved in a UNIversal, oBjeCtiVe mOraLITy If I'd been ignorANT of tHe Extent oF thEse 2 cultUraL diFfeRenCeS-if I'd someHow thougHt ThAt EvEryOne in THe world sHaRed MoRe oR less THe same Moral IdeaS aS mE And The otheR WhITE, midDlEcLass lonDoNers iN my nEIghBourhooD. But I wasn'T igNOranT: I HaD a front Row seat at the tHeAtre of humaN cUltUral diVERsity. So tO believe in a single true moRAlity I wOulD have Had tO believe, aRroGantly, ThaT SomehoW I (alonG with ThE reST Of my 'tRIBe') Had SoMe special aCCEss To the MoRal tRuth, a spEcial access denied tO EveRyone else on thE faCe of THE pLanET. WHAt cOuLD poSSIbly justify this? after all, it'S sIMpLy an accideNT of BiRth that i grew up To havE The moraL ideas thaT I have. Had i iNsteAD GroWn up on a FijIan islanD, or deep in THe AmaZOn Basin, Or iN rural chIna, i woulD have hAD an UtterLy diffErEnt morAl outLoOk. ClearlY, I had no better claim to the Moral tRuth tHan Anyone elsE. AnD ThaT's why I thoUght Moral relatIviSm wAs obvIouSLy truE. But i'M nOt a MOral rElatIVist any moRE. SO whAT
 objective morality-and wh o could be  so a rro gan tas t o th ink they had t h at?I mean, maybe if you w ere r el i giou s  y ou mi ght thi n ky o u h ad  t hat .B ut  even  th en, the re are man y d if ferent relig i on s, and rel igi ous teaching s r equire  i nte r preta tio n; an d so w h o coul d be so a rr o gant a s  to thi n k  t hatthey, out of ever y on e  in the world,  had h it on t heone  true inte rp retat i on of t h eo n e  tr u e religion? M y mother is a s ocialan thr o pologi st, s om e one  whose jobit i s to stud y diff e rent cu l tures,and gr owi ngup I wa skee nl y  aw a re  of the  huge di ff er ences  inm o r a l id eas  and  outl ooks betweendif fere n t h umansocie ties .As akid I' d sit  t hrough dinner p arti es listen ing  t o m ymum a n d herant hro pologyfriends swa pp i n g  s tories about the d is t a nt  peoples  withw ho mt hey'd li ve d:thet h ingsthey ' dhad to e at (li v egr asshopp er s andst ewe d g oat's plac enta w ere part icula r  standouts), t h e different k i nd s of fami lystructuresthey ' d be en w e lc ome d  into , and  t h ed ifferent ideas abou tethics  andthe cosmos th at they'dl e a rned abo ut.F or as long as I c an re member, th e n, I'veknown  that th e ideas I h appen to  ha veabo utt h in gs like prope r t y, m ar riage,sui cide, h omi cid e,inc es t, cannib alism, t he  n at ur alworld ,  and soon , a re  mo stlyj ust lo cal t o me  a nd tomy litt l ec o rner  o fthewor ld . Sohowc oul d I not  have bee n a rela ti vi st? Per haps I couldha ve believe dina univ e r sal, obj ective morality if I'db een ign ora nt of  the  extent o f t hese 2  cu l turaldiffer ences -i f I ' d  some h o wtho ug ht that ev e r yon e inth e wo rld sha red more or less t h e s ame moral ide asas m e an d t h eo the rw hit e ,  middleclass Lo ndoners in  m y  n eighbourho o d.Bu t I was n't ign orant :  I hada front r ow seat a tthet h eat re of huma n cultur al divers i ty. S o  t o bel iev e in a  s ing le tr ue mor a lit y I w ould h av e hadto be li eve, arr ogantly, that somehow I  (alon g wit h t he rest o f m y  't ribe') ha d so me special  ac ces s tothe moral  tru t h,  as pecia l ac c ess denie d  t o e v e ry one else on t h e f ace o f t h e plan et.What could possib l y justify this ? Af t e r a ll, it's  s imply an accid ent  o f birth th at  I grew upto haveth e  mora l idea s that  I have . Ha d  I ins tead  gr own up on  aFi j ian isl an d, or dee p in  t he Ama zon ba s in,o r  in rural China,  I wo u l d hav e  ha d anut terly d i ffer ent moraloutlook. Cl early,  I h ad no  better  c laim t o t he  moral tru t h than an yoneelse. A nd  tha t's  why I  tho u g ht mo ralre lat ivism was o bv i ou sl y  tr ue.But I 'm  not  a moralr elativis t a n y more.  S o w h a t
 objective_morality-and who_could be so arrogant_as to_think_they had_that?_I mean, maybe_if you were_religious you might think_you had that._But_even then, there are many different religions, and religious teachings require interpretation; and so_who_could be_so_arrogant_as to think that they,_out of everyone in the_world, had_hit on the one true interpretation of the_one_true religion? My_mother is a social anthropologist, someone whose job it_is to study different cultures, and_growing up I_was_keenly_aware of the huge_differences in moral ideas and outlooks_between different human societies. As a_kid I'd sit through dinner parties listening_to my mum and her anthropology_friends swapping stories about the_distant peoples_with whom they'd lived: the_things they'd had_to eat_(live grasshoppers and_stewed goat's placenta were particular standouts),_the different kinds_of family structures they'd been welcomed_into,_and the different_ideas_about_ethics and_the cosmos that_they'd_learned about._For_as long as I can remember,_then,_I've known that the ideas I happen_to have about things_like_property, marriage, suicide, homicide,_incest, cannibalism, the natural world,_and so on, are mostly just_local to_me and_to my little corner of the world. So how could I_not have been a relativist? Perhaps_I could have believed_in a_universal,_objective morality if_I'd_been ignorant_of the extent of these 2 cultural_differences-if I'd_somehow thought that everyone in the_world shared more or_less_the same moral ideas as me_and the other white, middleclass Londoners_in my neighbourhood. But I_wasn't_ignorant:_I had a front row_seat at the theatre of human_cultural diversity. So_to believe in a single true morality_I_would have had to believe, arrogantly,_that_somehow I (along with the rest_of_my_'tribe') had some special access_to the moral truth, a special_access denied to everyone else on the face of_the planet. What_could possibly justify this? After_all,_it's_simply an accident of birth that I grew up to_have the_moral ideas that_I have. Had I instead grown up on a Fijian_island, or deep in the Amazon basin,_or in rural China, I would have had an utterly different_moral outlook. Clearly, I had no better claim_to the moral truth than anyone else._And that's why I_thought_moral relativism was obviously true. But I'm_not_a_moral_relativist any more._So what