Morality cannot be derived from reason. It is derived from EMPATHY. In philosophy class you will learn that without empathy, morality is irrelevant, and without empathy there is no sense of what is just. Child abuse and torture are a great example of universal moral truths--because you cannot dispute abuse to be wrong just because it is merely relative and everyone has their own cultural beliefs. You consider it wrong because it is universally unjust.

I agree with Flame. You moral relativists have no leg to stand on and here's why.

Suppose you consider the moral truth that torturing babies for fun is morally wrong. This is universal under these points.

1) torturing a helpless child that cannot defend themselves is considered child abuse.

2) Child abuse is a universal crime no matter where you are in the world.

Abuse is wrong no matter what--even if you get off on it. Why? Because the cons outweight the pros.

Any type of abuse would psychologically damage and physically damage the one being abused. Just because it is fun for you doesn't mean the victim is having any fun being abused.

Empathy is an important part of morality no matter where you are in the world.

Without empathy--morality wouldn't exist.

Without morality--there would be no sense of what is just

and chaos would ensue.

So there must be a law that governs what one ought to to and what one

should not do and that law is the universal moral law.

Enough said. Try telling this person who is in a philosophy class that universal morality doesn't exist--and I'll also think you're trying to sell me the brooklyn bridge in China.