[AGE8 00] PRELIM: Lesson 4 Sources of Authority Culture

Elements of Culture

• Norms

• Values

• Beliefs

• Sanctions

• Customs

• Symbols

• Language

First Argument of Cultural Relativism

• It is premised on the reality of difference.

• Different cultures have different moral codes, we cannot say that any one moral code is the right one.

Second Argument of Cultural Relativism

• Under cultural relativism, we realize that we are in no position to render any kind of judgment on the practices of another culture.

• This seems to be a generous and an open-minded way of respecting others.

• What if the practice seems to call for comment?

• What if, for instance, a particular African tribe thought it is advantageous and therefore right for them to wipe out a neighboring people through a terrible practice of genocide?

Third Argument of Cultural Relativism

• Under cultural relativism, we realize that we are in no position to render judgment on the practices of even our own culture.

• If our culture was the basis for determining right and wrong, we would be unable to say that something within our cultural practice was problematic, precisely because we take our culture to be the standard for making such judgments.

• If we came from a particular society wherein there is a tradition of arranged marriage, we would simply have to accept that this is how we do things.

Fourth Argument of Cultural Relativism

• It is perhaps the most evident contemporary difficulty with cultural relativism, is that we can maintain it only by following the presumption of culture as a single, clearly defined substance or as something fixed and already determined.

• Now, it may be possible to find many examples of a certain culture having a unique practice or way of life and to distinguish it from other cultures' practices, but at the same time it is also becoming increasingly difficult to determine what exactly defines one's culture.

Cultural Relativism

• The objective analysis of other cultures — understanding a culture’s beliefs and practices from that culture’s point of view.

• It is not about imposing judgement or assessing the worth of other cultures.

  • This is ethnocentrism.

• For example, can we judge the wearing of the burqa in Islamic communities, simply because it differs from Western ideas about femininity?

Filipino Values

• Fear of the Lord (Pagkatakot sa Diyos).

• Faith (Pananalig)

• Close Family Ties (Makapamilya)

• Community Spirit (Bayanihan)

• Solidarity (Pakikibaka)

• Love for Others/Fellowmen (Pakikipagkapwa/Pakikisama)

• Knowledge (Karunungan)

• Love for Country or Patriotism (Pagmamahal sa Bayan)

• Responsible Citizenship (Mabuting Mamayan)

• Courage (Lakas or Tibay ng Loob)

Pagkatakot sa Diyos

Fear of the Lord

Pananalig

Faith

Makapamilya

Close Family Ties

Bayanihan

Community Spirit

Pakikibaka

Solidarity

Pakikipagkapwa/Pakikisama

Love for Others/Fellowmen

Karunungan

Knowledge

Pagmamahal sa Bayan

Love for Country or Patriotism

Mabuting Mamayan

Responsible Citizenship

Lakas or Tibay ng Loob

Courage