Philippine E-Journals

Postmodernism and Conflict of Valves: The Challenge of Universal Morality

Temisanren Ebijuwa

Discipline: Philosophy

 

Abstract:

This paper attempts to make an analysis of postmodernism, with a view to developing a viable perspective of universal morality. In doing this, we challenge the postmodernist claim that moral values are context-dependent. We argue that its pursuit can only generate conflict of values in and/or across societies in a world of a network of interlocking relationships. Thus, we contend that the diversity of cultural activities and values does not preclude the existence of universal morality. In arguing this claim, we posit not only that the plurality of cultural activities does not establish local morality, but also that cross-cultural evaluation of moral values is possible. We examine this against the background of extant interpretation of universal morality. The paper therefore adopts a method that is both analytic and reconstructive to develop a perspective of universal morality that accommodates our inevitable differences and engender social progress and human solidarity.