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Oxford Handbook of Normative Ethics

Normative Relativism

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Wong, DB
January 1, 2026

The relation between metaethical relativism—the thesis that there is more than one true morality—and normative relativism—the thesis that one ought to tolerate or not interfere with people who act on moral beliefs that are fundamentally different from one’s own—is a matter of contention. This chapter argues that metaethical relativism serves as a basis, at least partially, for asserting normative relativism. It argues that one version of metaethical relativism does have such implications because it accepts boundaries on the range of true moralities. Moreover, there are other important and complex relationships between normative views about what one has reason to do, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, the reasoning that can lead, if not necessarily, to adoption of metaethical relativism. These normative views can be moral views about what is right and wrong, and they can be normative views about what is epistemically rational.

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Publication Date

January 1, 2026

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391 / 406
 

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Wong, D. B. (2026). Normative Relativism. In Oxford Handbook of Normative Ethics (pp. 391–406). https://doi.org/10.1093/9780197510926.003.0013
Wong, D. B. “Normative Relativism.” In Oxford Handbook of Normative Ethics, 391–406, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1093/9780197510926.003.0013.
Wong DB. Normative Relativism. In: Oxford Handbook of Normative Ethics. 2026. p. 391–406.
Wong, D. B. “Normative Relativism.” Oxford Handbook of Normative Ethics, 2026, pp. 391–406. Scopus, doi:10.1093/9780197510926.003.0013.
Wong DB. Normative Relativism. Oxford Handbook of Normative Ethics. 2026. p. 391–406.

DOI

Publication Date

January 1, 2026

Start / End Page

391 / 406