Cultural Relativism Overview Quiz

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.