CHAPTER 1: CULTURAL RELATIVISM

Cultural Relativism

- says, in effect, that there is no such thing as universal truth in ethics; there are only the various cultural codes.

- challenges our belief in the objectivity and legitimacy of moral judgments.

- claims that no moral truth applies to everyone worldwide; instead, what is right or wrong depends entirely on what a specific group or culture believes

Example: Believing that bowing to elders is polite in one country, while shaking hands is polite in another, means manners depend on local cultural standards.

Ethnocentrism

- Judging another culture solely by the values and standards of one's own culture, often assuming one's own culture is superior.

- Thinking your own country's or group's habits are the only correct way, and looking down on others.

Example: Mocking people from another country for eating with their hands instead of using forks.

Cultural Assimilation

- The process through which individuals or groups of differing ethnic heritage are absorbed into the dominant culture of a society.

- When minority groups give up their original customs to fit in and adopt the rules of a bigger group around them.

Example: A family moving to a new country and stopping the use of their native language at home so they sound like everyone else.

Universal Standards

Moral rules that apply to all human beings everywhere regardless of culture (e.g., prohibition against indiscriminate murder or lying).

Culturally-Relative Standards

Rules that vary from culture to culture and are created by societal customs.