Which criticism is often leveled against ethical relativism?

Ethical relativism posits that moral truths are not universal but rather shaped by cultural, societal, or personal contexts. One significant criticism of ethical relativism is that it can lead to moral nihilism. This is the viewpoint that if all morals are relative and there are no absolute standards, then all actions are equally valid, and there is no basis for judging one action as better or worse than another. Such a perspective undermines the significance of moral reasoning and ethical decision-making, as it suggests that any action, irrespective of context or consequence, is equally permissible. This criticism highlights the potential pitfalls of ethical relativism, illustrating that without some common moral framework to evaluate actions, the concept of morality becomes meaningless, leaving individuals with no solid ground for making ethical choices.