Cultural Relativism

Cultural Relativism

It is the ability to understand a culture  on its own terms and not to make  judgments using the standards of  one’s own culture.

Ethnocentrism

You use your own culture as the center and evaluate other cultures based on it. You are judging, or making assumptions about the food/clothes/practices etc. of other countries based on your own norms, values, or beliefs.

Absolute
Critical

Two Different Categories of Cultural Relativism

Absolute

Complete acceptance and tolerance for any type of cultural practice.

Critical

Critiquing cultural practices in terms of human rights.

1. Different societies have different moral codes

2. The Moral Code of a society determines what is right within that society

3. There is no objective standard that can be used to judge one society’s code as better than the others.

4. It is arrogant for us to judge other cultures

Claims by Cultural Relativist

1. It is a system which promotes cooperation.

2. Creates a society where equality is possible

3. Preserves human cultures

4. Creates a society without judgement

Advantages

1. Creates a system that is fueled by personal bias

2. Draws people away from each other

3. Limits moral progress

4. Limits humanity’s progress

5. Could promote lack of diversity

Disadvantages