WEEK 4: FREEDOM, CULTURE, CULTURAL RELATIVISM

True

True or False

Dilemmas require freedom because they naturally involve the capacity to make choices, the freedom to prioritize values or goals, and the responsibility for the consequences of those choices.

Freedom

There is such thing as dilemma because there is such thing as _

Reason; Will

Freedom is the power rooted in _ (intellect) and _ (moral action)

Responsibility

having freedom means having _

Moral Choice

Without freedom, it is impossible to make a _

Uncontrolled Decision

If we are to have free will, we must be able to make an _

Immanuel Kant

He believed that to be morally accountable for our actions, we must possess free will. A good moral action cannot be praised if you have no other option, while an immoral action cannot be punished as, once again, there was no free choice.

Consequence of being free

Making moral choices is a necessary _

Culture

it is the integrated pattern of human knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors. It consists of language, ideas, customs, morals, laws, taboos, institutions, tools, techniques, works of art, rituals, and other capacities and habits acquired by a person as a member of society. (Taylor as quoted by Palispis, 1997)

Material Culture

it refers to the physical objects, artifacts, and possessions that a society or group of people create, use, and value. It encompasses the tangible aspects of a culture, reflecting how people interact with their environment and express their identities.

ex. clothes, architecture, house, vehicle, public buildings, tools

Nonmaterial Culture

it refers to the intangible aspects of a culture, encompassing the ideas, beliefs, values, norms, symbols, language, and ideologies that shape how people perceive and interpret the world.

It involves the shared mental and symbolic elements that guide human behavior and communication within a society.

ex. language, beliefs, cultural practices, etiquette

Enculturation

the process of learning one’s own culture

J.M. Herskovits Margaret Mead

Enculturation, an anthropological term coined by _, defined the term as “the process of learning a culture in all its uniqueness and particularity”. The contents of this learning include both the material and nonmaterial culture

Learning

it means understanding and acquiring the traditional content of the culture, observing the other members of the society, such as parents, family, teachers, friends, acquaintances, relatives, etc., getting instructions from elders, and experiencing things as they occur.

Human Infants

they do not possess culture at birth. They have no conception of the world, language, or morality. They are uncultured, unsocialized persons. All _ need to live and cope within the cultural context awaiting them. Eventually, an individual learns and acquires the norms and values of a surrounding culture from birth and continues throughout life

Inculturation

recognizes the dynamic relationship between faith and culture

1985 synod

The _, which celebrated the 20th anniversary of the closing of the Second Vatican Council, spoke of inculturation as “the intimate transformation of authentic cultural values through their integration in Christianity in the various human cultures”

True

True or False

The synthesis between culture and faith is a requirement not only of culture but also of faith; Faith that does not become a culture is not fully accepted, not entirely reflected upon, or faithfully experienced.

Acculturation

the process of learning another culture

Acculturation

It is the process of transforming a person, group, or community by adopting characteristics from or adjusting to another culture as a result of various forms of interaction, such as migration, colonization, globalization, or prolonged contact between culturally distinct communities.

Adaptation

it is a central feature of acculturation leading to cultural change within one or both groups.

True

True or False

Acculturation is often seen in language, eating habits, and fashion, yet it does not impact or threaten the identity of the people or their native culture

Effective Acculturation

_ enables them to uphold their values while maintaining their self-respect

Enculturation

Examples:

• Children acquire the language of their family and neighborhood through frequent interactions with parents, siblings, and classmates.

• Children learn the significance of specific holidays, customs, and traditional ceremonies that hold cultural importance.

Inculturation

Examples:

• Design and architecture of religious buildings – churches, temples, or mosques may incorporate architectural elements that align with local aesthetics and cultural preferences.

• Adaptation of music and worship songs - traditional hymns may be rearranged to include local musical styles, instruments, and languages.

Acculturation

examples:

• International films, music, and television programs may influence local entertainment, leading to the adoption of new storytelling techniques and genres.

• Clothing styles and fashion trends – global fashion may influence traditional attire, leading to a fusion of cultural elements.

• Transfer of knowledge and educational practices – for instance, western educational systems, have influenced academic structures and methodologies in many parts of the world.

Enculturation

contributes to the development of a moral identity rooted in cultural values. Individuals often exhibit behaviors that align with the moral standards and expectations of their cultural upbringing.

Acculturation

may integrate ethical practices from their original culture and the culture they are incorporating, resulting in a blend of moral behaviors.

Inculturation

it can lead to the alignment of moral behavior with religious teachings. Individuals may exhibit behaviors that reflect a commitment to their cultural identity and religious principles

Cultural Relativism

it is the capacity to perceive a culture on its terms and refrain from making judgments based on standards from one’s own culture.

Cultural Relativism

It stresses the idea that no culture is superior to another culture compared to systems of morality, law, politics, and the like.

Cultural Relativism

A universal definition of good and evil does not exist—every decision regarding what is right or wrong depends on the culture.

Cultural Relativism

Therefore, any opinion on morality or ethics is subject to the cultural perspective of each person. It means that no morality or ethical framework can be declared to be the “best” or “worst” and no moral or ethical stance can be judged to be “right” or “wrong”

Cultural Relativists

_ believe that every culture has equal worth and value on its own.

Advantages of Cultural Relativism

• It creates a society without judgment

  • It encourages people to view other cultures with an open mind

  • It promotes a deeper understanding of diverse ways of life

• It establishes respect

  • It promotes tolerance by discouraging ethnocentric judgments

  • It contributes to respectful interactions between individuals

• It preserves human culture

• It recognizes the diversity of human cultures

• It contributes to preserving cultural diversity

Advantages of Cultural Relativism

• It creates a system fueled by personal bias

  • Individuals like to be around people who share their beliefs and emotions; they divide themselves into social groups

• It would create chaos

  • It becomes challenging to address issues beyond cultural differences

• It could limit humanity’s progress

  • It may foster ethical indifference or moral apathy

  • can limit the potential for positive social change and the advancement of human rights.

How does Cultural Relativism influence moral behavior?

• Cultural Relativism encourages individuals to respect and appreciate the diversity of moral values and practices across different cultures.

• Cultural Relativism emphasizes the importance of considering the cultural context when making moral decisions. Actions should be evaluated within the framework of the cultural values and norms that shape them.

How does Cultural Relativism influence moral behavior?

• Cultural Relativism may lead individuals to be willing to engage with and respect local perspectives, allowing for a more accurate understanding of moral decisions within a specific cultural setting.

• Cultural Relativism acknowledges that ethical standards may vary across cultures