Ethnocentrism Overview and Impacts

Study Notes

Ethnocentrism is the inclination to view the world through the lens of one’s own culture.
This mindset includes the belief that one’s race or cultural group is superior to others.

Ethnocentrism can lead to incorrect assumptions about the behaviors and practices of other cultures.
In extreme cases, ethnocentric views may view other cultures as immoral or wrong, potentially justifying attempts to convert others to one's own cultural norms, including through force.
Historical repercussions of ethnocentrism include war and genocide when a group resists change.

Reactions to different cultural practices may be involuntary; however, these reactions do not inherently lead to violence or discrimination.
To prevent cultural conflicts, individuals should strive for greater cultural awareness and sensitivity.

Evaluating others based on their dietary choices, often assuming one's own cuisine is superior.
Critiquing clothing styles that differ from one's cultural norm.
Assuming that English is the primary or default language, leading to judgments about non-English speakers.

Relativism posits that absolute truths do not exist; only subjective truths are identified by individuals or cultures.
This belief allows for a diversity of views regarding what is considered moral or immoral across different peoples.
Critics of relativism often feel uncomfortable with the idea that moral perspectives can vary greatly without an absolute standard.

Judgments of truth or falsity are contingent on specific factors, often linked to individual or cultural perspectives.
There is no objective truth independent of the observers; truth is influenced by the cultural or societal context of the individuals making the judgment.

Cultural relativists advocate that all cultures possess intrinsic worth and values, thereby promoting equal standing amongst different cultures.
Specific examples illustrate the application of relativism:
- Criticism of cultural practices is discouraged, as seen in the tolerance of dog consumption in Chinese culture.
- Historical context is used to mitigate moral judgments, exemplified by the justification of slave ownership by historical figures like the founding fathers.
- Ethical practices, such as veganism, should remain personal choices without external imposition on others’ diets.

According to relativists, concepts of right and wrong are subjective and only understood within someone's environmental context.
Relativism denies the existence of a universal moral truth that could rank one ethical system as superior to another.