...Cultural Relativism Cultural relativism, or CR, is the view that good and bad are determined by the beliefs of a society, or in other words, moral principles are based upon the culture’s collective norms of what is good and bad. Normality is culturally defined. This implies that morality is a social construct and therefore the moral codes you hold, are a direct reflection of the societies codes in which you live. Further, the morals held by your society are not objective facts, but rather, varied from culture to culture. Neither side is wrong in their belief, despite the fact they are different beliefs. Relativism argues that not passing judgments against cultures allows for a greater sense of cultural appreciation. We don't lock other cultures in judgments, but rather are tolerant and accepting of them. Cultural relativism teaches us to view other cultures with a nuanced outlook, and to not immediately assume (as many people do) that our own preferences are the absolute best ones. Many (though not all) practices, customs, and beliefs may seem odd or even repulsive, but they’re generally harmless as far as their ethical consequences. From the tolerance and open-mindedness offered by cultural relativism is a chance to learn about other cultures and ways of doing things. Opponents of cultural relativism offer some strong arguments against this theory. First, it doesn’t allow you to question society’s norms. In asking whether slavery was right or wrong, you would merely be asking...
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...The Challenge of Cultural Relativism Cultural Relativism is what seems right and wrong from culture to culture. Every society has their own set of values and moral codes. It breaks down to a matter of opinion. When you grow up in a certain society you learn what is accepted as right and wrong. Not every culture is going to agree on what’s morally right because there is no set standard. Every culture could be objectionable to another’s set of moral codes. In some cultures its common practice to kill newborns if they are females as other cultures find this to be terrible. In other cultures some eat the flesh of the dead while other cultures would see this as a sickening act. In areas around Arabia women are looked down upon and viewed as property. Even here in America other countries disagree with how our society runs. Even a lot of the people here in the same country disagree too. Some values that are shared through all cultures would be like protecting one’s family, being honest, and murder is bad. Cultural Relativism may seem appealing when first introduced especially as children because it’s how we first learn to behave in society. We’re not open minded to seeing other view points and get to get a glimpse inside other culture’s. It’s what we learn as what’s right and what’s wrong with not much middle ground. Cultural Relativism can’t be true because in different cultures there are different sets of moral codes, so there is no truth in morality, it’s all different opinions...
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...Cultural Relativism Response Essay James Rachel overall definition of Cultural Relativism to me is someone’s belief that challenges our everyday belief in morality. Rachel gives us examples of what’s right and one cultural can be wrong or immoral in another. In the example of the cremation of the dead of the Greeks and the eating of the dead fathers of the Callatians. Rachel then present the idea of the different cultures views to one another and the two cultures both felt like it was immoral. Now me personally I think bout the ideas of cannibalism and cremation are immoral but Rachel explains how can one say wrong base on their moral codes and teaching is. This helps me realize in Cultural Relativism that in this world not every society believes in the same morals and ethics so there’s no truth in morality. Rachel gives his arguments towards Cultural Relativism that it shouldn’t be accepted completely. The changes or advances society makes can be improvements. That some cultures old beliefs were wrong for example slavery and the killing of the Jewish. So I get the impression that nothing’s wrong with the society if it’s accepted within. The cultural(s) who still believe the world is flat I believe that this shows Cultural Relativism because many other society know its round but the acceptance of the “flat” thinking is accepted which may lead to moral improvement. The reading also proves to me that we cannot judge societies base on the beliefs of others. Rachel talks...
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...It is important to consider all objective facts when debating moral topics. Cultural Relativism and Subjectivism make it seem like people have different ideas of what is morally right and wrong. The idea that morals vary throughout the world stems from the observations of different cultural practices and personal circumstance. All these differences that have been observed has created a theory that seems to miss some of the larger picture facts of cultures and personal circumstance. Missing these facts makes it difficult to imagine a universal set of standards, but when all the objective points in a situation are taken into account, it is easier to envision an underlying theme of moral standards. Though the perceptions of the world differ, I will show how there seem to be a consistent root of moral truths underlying the individual cultures and circumstances. Cultural Relativism views morality in an interesting manner. Cultural Relativists have observed that different cultures view many topics differently (Rachels, p17). The Cultural Differences Argument has taken this observation and used it to argue that there are no moral truths (Rachels, p19). Cultural Relativism allows for each culture around the world to practice a multitude of traditions without judgement. Good to recognize, right? In most cases, yes. What about when cultural belief, worried about a girl losing her virginity sinfully, urges parents to marry off their daughter? How about when the only solution to poverty...
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...CULTURAL RELATIVISM Cultural Relativism is the idea that a culture is relative to a particular area. Right and wrong are defined by what a particular culture says is right and wrong. Different cultures have different moral codes therefore, there is no universal truth. We are not in the position to judge one culture based on our own culture. We cannot say to a particular culture that their actions are wrong just because it opposes our culture. A cultural relativist would say we should always be tolerant of them since morality varies for each culture because each society adapts differently according to their environment. For example, the Callatians ate the bodies of their dead fathers out of respect and to have their father’s spirit live in them even after they’re gone, while the Greeks practiced cremation and regarded it as the natural and right way of letting go of the dead. Like what Rachels said, “What is thought right within one group may horrify the members of another group, and vice versa.” (p.14) To support this argument, Cultural Relativists have stated (1) Different cultures have different moral codes. (2) Therefore, there is no objective truth in morality. Right and wrong are only matter of opinion, and opinions vary from culture to culture. (p. 18) However, Rachels doesn’t agree with this because the conclusion doesn’t follow the premise. He used the example of the Greeks and Callatians. The Callatians believed that it was right to eat the dead, but the Greeks...
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...of Cultural Relativism” by James Rachels The argument that I would like to address from this reading is that “there is no objective truth in morality. Right and wrong are only matters of opinion, and opinions vary from culture to culture.” (Rachels, 618). In this reading, William Graham Sumner says, “there is no measure of right and wrong other than the standards of one’s society.” ( Rachels, 619) This means that right and wrong are determined by a specific culture and may not be viewed the same in another culture. Cultural relativism is the belief that although practices and ethical beliefs differ from society to society, it must be accepted as good, relative to each respective culture's beliefs and moral code. In cultural relativism, right and wrong become matters of opinion in a particular culture and one culture should not judge the behaviors of another culture by using the standards of their own culture as a measuring stick. If this is the case, then nothing is inherently wrong and nothing is inherently good. It is an “anything goes” mentality – it just has to be approved by ones’ culture or society. “Cultural relativism is a theory about the nature of morality” (Rachels, 618). But that’s all it is –it is only a theory. The moral decisions are a matter of the perception of what one cultures perceives to be moral. I disagree with Rachels’ viewpoint when he states that there is no absolute rational standard and that the theory of Cultural Relativism does...
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...Philosophy 101 Cultural relativism believes that every culture has its own value and worthy in their own right. No one has a right to judge or say about how this or that culture is worthless just because they do something opposite of what they believe and respect. What proves and right do you have to say that doing this is moral or immoral. Just like James Rachel’s brief statement “Different cultures have different moral codes.”(p. 175). Some people may disagree about something, and some may agree about something. That does not mean one is right and another one is wrong. Everyone thinks differently just because members of a different culture think it is bad, that does not mean it is bad. From my own experience, since I am from another country (Laos) I see many things that are different from America. How Laotian...
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...| Paper 1 | | | | Paper 1 | | | Phil 140 April 6, 2012 Authored by: Willie Moore Phil 140 April 6, 2012 Authored by: Willie Moore Cultural Relativism challenges our belief in the objectivity and universality of moral truth. Cultural Relativism also holds that that the norms of a culture reign supreme within the bounds of the culture itself. Cultural Relativists believe that there is no such thing as universal truth in ethics; there are only the various cultural codes, and nothing more. There are five claims that are made by cultural relativists: 1. Different societies have different moral codes. 2. The moral code of a society determines what is right within that society; that is, if the moral code of a society says that a certain action is right, then that action is right, at least within that society. 3. There is no objective standard that can be used to judge no moral truths that hold for all people at all times. 4. The moral code of our own society has no special status; it is but one among many. 5. It is arrogant for us to judge other cultures. We should always be tolerant of them. There are three problems Rachel has with Cultural Relativism: 1. We could no longer say that the customs of other societies are morally inferior to our own. 2. We could no longer criticize the code of our own society. 3. The idea of moral progress is called into doubt. Ethical Subjectivism is the idea that our moral opinions are based on our feelings and nothing...
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...1. Cultural Relativism: Culture relativism is the view that all cultures are equal. Regardless of the cultural differences, no culture is better than another. Each culture sets their own moral and ethical standards to live by. An example of Cultural Relativism would be how in some cultures they believe women’s bodies, hair, and face must be covered at all times outside of the home when other cultures do not. Not every culture has the same beliefs. 2. Aristotle’s theory of Hylomorphism: The theory of Hylomorphism is Aristotle concept of people being both form and matter. Aristotle thought of form as the physical appearance (body) and the matter to be what the object consists of (soul). An example would be pavement. The unhardened clay would be the matter. The matter changes form when the clay hardens. 3....
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...Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural relativism is the principle of regarding the beliefs, values, and practices of a culture from the viewpoint of that culture itself. (Cultural Relativism NP). According to the cultural relativist the civil rights reforms that Martin Luther King sought were not morally right or wrong. One example would be if you were raised to believe that African Americans should be discriminated, yet in another country, people believe is wrong to discriminate because of their skin color. Someone who believes in cultural relativism would not judge discrimination as "right" or "wrong", because there isn't a "right" or "wrong". They believe that each culture must be understood with neutrality. Martin Luther King Jr. was an important individual, because he tried to end racism. Martin was...
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...1 The anthropological definition of cultural relativism is that people studying cultures let go of their “esthetic and moral judgments” when they are studying other cultures. It is the idea that anthropologists should build an understanding of another culture allowing it to develop as freely as any other culture in their mind. It is the practice of staying entirely non-judgmental and not allowing personal thoughts and apprehensions to come in the way of understanding another culture. It involves developing the understanding about another culture with an unassuming observance and keeping an open mind to whatever comes across without developing any bias or being judgmental about it. Anthropologists use cultural relativism when on the field by leaving all of their biases and preconceived notions when they study other cultures. They try to ‘forget’ any prior knowledge that they have about the...
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...Cultural and ethical relativism are two extensive theories that are used to rationalize the differences amongst cultures in regards to their morals and ethics. Ruth Benedict, a significant American anthropologist from 1887 to 1948, moved from the theories of cultural relativism to the theories of ethical relativism, which brought major criticism to her work and philosophy’s. Cultural relativism is the view that one is born into a particular culture. Culture in this definition is the sum of peoples’ practices, from birth rituals, to how adolescence is defined, to gender roles. Being born into a particular culture shapes one’s particular worldview. A person cannot fully participate in a culture unless that person has “lived according to its...
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...identifying whether universally moral values existed or not. Accordingly, this essay will demonstrate that, although the relativist stance on the philosophical problem may seem quite compelling, the universalist one ultimately proves itself to be the most applicable and reasonable. In other words, moral universalism will win over cultural relativism inasmuch as the relativist will fail to provide compelling responses to the universalist’s objections, as this essay will further explain. However, to balance out the debate, I will additionally highlight the benefits that the relativist theory brings to...
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...(Ethnocentrism vs. Cultural Relativism) As a Sociologist, should we practice Cultural Ethnocentrism or Cultural Relativism? We must first understand the two distinct theories regarding perception of outside cultures: Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism. Ethnocentrism is judging another culture solely by the values and standards of one's own culture.[1] The ethnocentric individual will judge other groups relative to his or her own particular ethnic group or culture, especially with concern to language, behavior, customs, and religion - these ethnic distinctions and subdivisions serve to define each ethnicity’s unique cultural identity.[2] The logical alternative to ethnocentrism is Cultural relativism, the practice of judging a culture by its own standards. Cultural relativism can be difficult for certain individuals to adopt: it requires not only openness to unfamiliar values and norms but also the ability to put aside cultural standards we have known all our lives.[3] No one ethnic group has the right to say that their particular system of beliefs and values are in any way superior to anyone else’s system of beliefs and values. What is right for one culture might be wrong for another. There is no absolute standard of right and wrong by which to compare and contrast morally contradictory cultural values. Ethnocentrism and cultural relativism are mutually exclusive. The social sciences are limited to what can be observed, measured and verified. The question of what...
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...action that is a societal norm? But this then raises the issue of the looking glass turning the other direction; if we cannot judge another culture, can that culture judge us? By embarking down this path of moral relativism we head towards a destination that is inherently immoral because there are no absolutes but instead only situations and contexts in which things are moral and others where they are not. Many would argue that each society is entitled to their own opinions and to create their own values. These same people would instead argue that there are no universal truths. Ironically, this statement in itself is a paradox as what it espouses is a universal truth. By removing our capacity to judge others & other cultures we take the cowardly & easy way out, when the reality is there are universal truths and absolutes. How can one take the stance that something is absolutely and unconditionally immoral, but then later add the caveat that this only applies to their society. If something is absolute does this not apply universally? By taking this view of moral isolationism it undermines the validity of the arguments that do not fall outside the scope of their society as it now opens the door for a notion of moral relativism. In operating in a world where cross-cultural interactions are virtually a daily occurrence...
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