Cultural Relativism Overview Quiz

Questions and Answers

What is cultural relativism?

Recognizing differences across cultures without judging those differences as positive or negative, since good or bad varies from culture to culture.

Are there objective moral truths?

Cultural relativism says there is no universal moral truth since the truth of morality is tied to one's culture.

What is a normative claim?

A claim about how things ought to be; value judgments (ex: you should be a barista).

What is a descriptive claim?

A claim about how things are (ex: the coffee is room temperature). Signup and view all the answers

What does cultural relativism claim about the moral codes of different cultures?

What is right or wrong depends solely on that specific culture. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Cultural Differences Argument?

Different cultures have different moral codes. Signup and view all the answers

What are some consequences of cultural relativism?

<ol> <li>We can no longer say that the customs of other societies are morally inferior to our own. 2. We could decide which actions are right or wrong based on our societal standards. 3. The idea of moral progress is called into doubt.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

Why are the consequences of cultural relativism considered bad?

It prevents moral progress since one cannot judge their own society, leading to a lack of motivation to criticize societal morals. Signup and view all the answers

What does FGM stand for?

Female Genital Mutilation. Signup and view all the answers

Why is FGM a problem for cultural relativism?

Cultural relativism suggests that practices like FGM are acceptable if a culture permits them, which raises serious moral concerns. Signup and view all the answers

According to Rachels, what is cultural relativism and what does it claim about ethical truth?

Cultural relativism is the idea that moral codes are tied to culture, claiming there is no universal ethical truth. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Rachels believe that the different cultures argument is bad?

The argument is unsound because the conclusion does not follow the premise; disagreement among cultures does not negate objective facts. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Cultural Relativism Overview

Cultural relativism recognizes and respects the diversity of values across cultures without labeling them as positive or negative.
In this view, morality is not universal but varies significantly between different cultures.

Objective Moral Truths

Cultural relativism posits that there are no universal moral truths; moral codes are intrinsically linked to cultural contexts.

Normative vs. Descriptive Claims

Normative claims involve judgments about how things should be, encompassing value opinions (e.g., "You should be a barista").
Descriptive claims pertain to factual statements about the world (e.g., "The coffee is room temperature").

Relation of Moral Codes

Moral beliefs are culturally bound; what is deemed right or wrong is contingent on cultural perspectives.
An example is the contrasting views on cannibalism between the Greeks and Callatians, illustrating the subjectivity of morality based on cultural context.

Cultural Differences Argument

Many moral codes exist across various cultures (Premise 1).
This diversity implies there is no absolute moral truth (Conclusion).
Ethics are subjective, depending on cultural consensus.

Consequences of Cultural Relativism

Cultural practices cannot be deemed inferior to others, fostering a lack of moral critique.
Societies may evaluate actions solely against their own cultural norms.
The notion of moral progress becomes questionable, as societies may resist changes to their moral frameworks.

Critique of Cultural Relativism

Cultural relativism is flawed as it limits criticism of severe injustices like racism or genocide.
It risks complacency within a culture, leading to a belief in its own moral infallibility and stalling moral evaluation.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

FGM refers to harmful practices involving the alteration of female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
Cultural relativism struggles with practices like FGM, as it requires acceptance of culturally sanctioned actions without ethical scrutiny.

Rachels' View on Cultural Relativism

Rachels defines cultural relativism as the belief that ethical standards are determined by societal norms.
He argues that this ideology dismisses the possibility of universal ethical truths, making morality purely a reflection of cultural values.

Criticism of the Cultural Differences Argument

Rachels contends that the conclusion of the cultural differences argument does not logically follow its premise.
Disagreements in beliefs, such as differing views about the shape of the Earth, do not negate the existence of objective truths.
Some cultures may hold erroneous beliefs despite their cultural consensus, highlighting flaws in the relativist stance.

Description

Test your understanding of cultural relativism and its implications on morality. This quiz explores the distinction between normative and descriptive claims, as well as how moral codes vary across different cultures. Delve into the complexities of ethical perspectives shaped by culture.