Cultural Relativism Notes

Give the loose definition of culture?

The way we live our lives?

What creates what defines us (culture)

• Geography of my environment,

• Political structures, laws, economic development of my country, my city, etc

• Social media

• Religion

• Education

• Family, religion, school, generation

Three layers of culture?

Outer, Middle, Core

Define the outer layer of culture

The visible manifestations

Ex. Art, music, road systems, markets

What is the middle layer of culture?

Rules and values

Clarify: what is the difference between rules and values?

Rules - These are visible manifestations of values, the statement of what is wrong, and the punishment

Values - These are the reasons behind these rules, what people find valuable

Give me an example of a rule - value relationship

eating the dead — respecting the dead

Define the inner element of culture?

The “World view” or people or their “Volksgeist”, a deep subconscious structure that unites and defines a people

Expound on how culture and me are cyclical

Culture affects and shapes who I am, while I shape cultures via our participation within them

What is a historical and geographic exigency? What is its relation to Ethical Relativism

“It need not be the case, but it is” basically when there’s an urgent need for something

In relation to ER, it shows that sometimes cultures value common things but show it in ways other cultures find disagreeable — ex. Eating the dead by the Callatians

Which disciplines originated Ethical Relativism?

1) Anthropologists — those who study the past to see societal patterns

2) Sociologists — Those who study how humans interact within civil society

What is the argument of ethical relativism?

Premise: Different cultures have different moral codes/beliefs. What is considered right within one group may be utterly unacceptable to the members of another group.

Conclusion: There is NO universal truths in ethics. There are no standards of morality that cut across cultures

What are the two critiques of Cultural Relativism?

1) The one from logical correctness

2) Critique of the substance of the argument

What’s the rebuttal based on logical correctness?

Just because its true cultures have very different values does not mean there’s no objective morality —> We have never seen all cultures, so we cannot make such an inevitable conclusion

1st Rebuttal based on susbtance?

We cannot have moral progress; would you really say slavery societies are as just as liberal democracies?

2nd rebuttal based on substance?

The conclusion is invalid, there are clearly some values that cut across all cultures —> There are simply different “Dressings” to these values, although some societies do not follow moral standards

What are the three moral standards

1) Respect for human life 2) Nurturing our young 3) Truth telling

What do all societies strive towards?

IDEALS that underly values —> like respect for human life

What is the hierarchy of values?

Outlines which values some cultures value more than others

• Ex. Personal Freedom Vs The Right to life

• Is more proscriptive, we can objective say “Gun control is good”

Traits of Filipino society (5 things)

- Anomaly in Asia,” very Latin: love talk, demonstrate warmth and emotion openly, love the good life-food,dance, music. (easygoing)

• Cosmopolitan (i.e we are at home everywhere); Filipinos can be found all over the world and the world is in the Philippines, perhaps because of economic need and English

Anomaly —> Cosmopolitcan

• Fiercely love and protect democratic tradition

• Love for discussions and debate even if education still tends to be rote;

• Gender equality; women occupy high positions

Democratic values as a result: Democracy, debate, gender equality — think of your female colleagues

The way Filipino people are?

- Family-centered (perhaps bec. govt

cannot provide for basic needs)? OFWs are

abroad for family

• College education is very important; way

for social mobility

• Personal and professional are intertwined

(NOTE: The conclusion creates the other two — we care for both family and the profession college gives us

Describe the bad aspects of the Filipino way?

Paternalistic—focus on leaders and personalities; warm environment but tendency for exception-making

Hardworking when motivated but needs to work at respect for facts and details in to get judgments right

Saving face most important guide to ethical decisions?

Think of a nepo baby

• Got in due to parents and their personality

• Rejects the hardworking guy

• Everyone wants to save face