-----Original Message----- From: Sascha Noyes [mailto:sascha@pantropy.net] Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2004 12:51 PM To: English Wikipedia Subject: Re: [WikiEN-l] The integrity of Wikipedia
On Thursday 12 February 2004 11:41 am, Poor, Edmund W wrote:
There is a significant difference between NPOV and "moral relativism",
Actually there isn't.
Moral relativism says that there are no values.
No it doesn't. Moral relativism says that there are no _absolute_ values. Merely that different (and often broadly overlapping) sets of values are held by different groups/in different times. Another important aspect of moral relativism is the origin of the values in groups. Moral relativist posit that the values of a group are significantly influenced by factors such as tradition, power-structure.
NPOV does not say this, but as a practical matter insists that no article be used to take a stand endorsing or opposing any values.
Not endorsing or opposing any values, because they are not absolute, is the fundamentalist moral relativist position.
Best, Sascha Noyes