Abstract

I wish to examine the origins and coinciding factors present in moral systems when compounded with violent material conditions through the lens of attempting to establish the efficacy of the ‘might makes right’ principle. In the first chapter, I believe that by examining real world incidences, both of moral systems causing violent material conditions to come about, as well as moral systems adapting to violent material conditions being the norm for certain periods of time, a real-world pattern of violent ‘might makes right’ incidents can be established. Through this establishment of historical incidences of violence both affecting morality and failing to affect morality, I believe a proper analysis for the ‘might makes right’ principle (or moral relativity spurred by material violence) can be conducted. In chapter two, I hope to briefly examine empirical studies on the presence of cross-cultural morals which people use to govern both interpersonal and inter-group exchanges. Following that, the third chapter will focus on providing analysis of the ‘might makes right’ rule as it affects political action, and how that can interlink with political violence. In the final chapter, I wish to provide an analysis of some contemporary and relevant philosophical discourse on the nature of violence, both physical and stochastic, as it relates to morality. Additionally, I will attempt to offer my own insights and conclusions on the primary subject of inquiry, being: does ‘might makes right’ have any claim to validity, what is the nature of the principle in relation to other modes of human morality, and any rebuttal to the principle’s position as a constant force in moral interactions. In brief, the argument I wish to make is not that moral relativity through violence is proper or good, or that it is necessarily natural, but that it is integral to the current human condition, i.e., that we operate without moral principles despite our reverence towards them. This is not to say that I wish to justify the concept of ‘might makes right’, 2 but rather that I wish to acknowledge its validity whilst examining alternative methods of macro level human operability.

Advisor

Rudisill, John

Department

Philosophy

Keywords

Ethics, Metaethics, Violence

Publication Date

2023

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2023 Roger T. Fortier