The Special Theory of Relativity represents a revolution in physics. With the advent of Relativity, we discovered that there were inconsistencies in the methods used by science to model observable phenomena. We then were able to apply the Principles of Relativity to construct consistent models.
Relativity is not just a theory of physics per-se. More so, it is a theory about how we might test the veracity of physical theories. One of my professors once said, "It's a theory about theories".
Some moral philosophers may have borrowed concepts and terminology from Relativity, (including the concept that "There are no Preferred Reference Frames,") in order to construct, or at least to justify, an ethical model that is referred to as Moral Relativity.
According to my own understanding - which is subjective, biased, incomplete, and sometimes irrational - I think the present incarnation of Moral Relativity as an analogy, or derivative of Special Relativity can only have been constructed through misunderstanding the Principles of Relativity.
In otherwords, Special Relativity cannot be employed to grant logical leverage to Moral Relativity. At least not without grossly misunderstanding the implications of Relativity.
Relativity is subtle. I use the word subtle to mean that the components that are easiest to miss tend to be the most profound, as well as the most beautiful. The architects of Moral Relativity missed the subtlety, and ended up constructing half a theory, which generally gets employed as an excuse for moral irresponsibility, rather than the tool of constructive ethical discourse it might have been, had the Principles of Relativity truly been applied.
It is definitely possible to construct a theory of ethics from the Special Theory of Relativity - not by making an appeal to Relativity as a theory of physics, but by the fact that Relativity is a "Theory about Theories." We will use the concepts of Relativity to determine how to test the veracity of ethical models, just like Einstein did when he applied the Principles of Relativity to physical models.
The Principles of Relativity are well known (at least to physicists), well articulated, and capable of distinguishing truth from error. It is not surprising that a faithful application of these same principles to ethical models will lead to a system that is also able to distinguish truth, and produce effective discourse between potentially irreconcilable points of view. This approach to ethics definitely contrasts that of the orthodox Moral Relativist who may not believe that moral truth exists, or that viewpoints can't, or maybe shouldn't be reconciled.
Here we will attempt to outline how such an application of the Principles of Relativity might be applied to Ethics and Morality. We will construct Moral Relativity as it should have been.
