Fundamental Research about Moral Relativism - Laying Stress on the 18th French Thoughts

首先，在这一时期，我试图将道德相对主义定位于18世纪启蒙运动和浪漫主义（狄德罗、夏多布里昂等）；通过这些阅读，我发现相对主义和宽容思想之间的关系是非常复杂和矛盾的。幸运的是，我有机会在2002年5月日本哲学学会的研讨会上读到一篇关于这个问题的论文（“相对主义和普遍主义”）。在本文中，我从当代哲学的角度进行论证，以下是本文的提纲。人们通常说相对主义是正确的（可取的），因为它带给我们宽容的态度。（人类学思想蒙田）另一方面，也有人说它是错误的，因为它带来了虚无主义或为所欲为的哲学。但是，(1)和(2)双方都认同的相对主义带来宽容的陈词滥调是有问题的。因为，宽容的道德本身就是一种道德（自由主义），如果一个相对主义者断言宽容的道德是一种普遍价值，那么相对主义就会陷入自相矛盾的境地。（B. Williams）(4)然而，与此同时，(3)表明相对主义有可能在完全相反的一面倒下；反宽容的态度。(5)以上是关于宽容的相对主义的恶性循环。但是，它不仅可以在相对主义中看到，也可以在普遍主义或绝对主义中看到。(6)要想走出这种恶性循环，我们必须打破双方的一个默契前提。这种普遍的预设是将不同的文化（道德共同体）视为不可通约的公理系统的方式。在这种观点下，罗蒂的实用主义给了我们一个重要的建议。总之，对我来说，这是我能在当代哲学领域带来的最大的结果，包括共产主义/自由意志主义的争论。

At First in this period, I tried to localize the moral relativism in the Enlightenment and Romanticism (Diderot, Chateaubriand, etc,) in the 18^<th> century; Through this readings, I found that the relation between Relativism and the thoughts of Tolerance is very complex and paradoxical. Fortunately, I was given a chance to read a paper on this issue at the Symposium ("Relativism and Universalism") of the Philosophical Society of Japan (May, 2002). In this paper, I argued from the viewpoint of contemporary philosophy, the following is this outline.(1)It is usually said that the relativism is right (desirable) because it brings us the attitude of tolerance. (Montaigne, anthropological thinking)(2)0n the other side, it is also said that is is wrong because it brings the nihilism or anything-goes-philosophy. (Sandel)(3)But, the cliche that relativism brings tolerance, which the both sides of (1) and (2) share, is problematical. Because, The moral of tolerance is a moral (liberalism) itself, and if a relativist asserts the moral of tolerance as an universal value, The relativism will fall in a self-contradiction. (B. Williams)(4)Nevertheless, in the same time, (3) shows that relativism has the possibility to fall down in an completely opposite side; the attitude of anti-tolerance.(5)The above is a vicious circle of relativism concerning the tolerance. But, it can be seen not only in relativism, but also in universalism or absolutism.(6)In order to find a way out of this vicious circle, we have to destroy a tacit premise shared by the both sides. This common presupposition is the way of regarding different cultures (moral communities) as incommensurable axiomatic systems. In this view, the Pragmatism of R. Rorty gives us an important suggestion.In sum, it was the biggest result for me that I could bring the problem in the field of contemporary philosophy, including the communitarian/Libertarian controversy.