Download Cultural Relativism

Cultural Relativism
General Features of
• Different societies have different moral
Cultural Relativism
codes.
• There is no objective standard that can
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be used to judge one societal code better
than another.
The moral code of our own society has
no special status; it is merely one among
many.
There is no “universal truth” in ethics.
The moral code of a society determines
what is right within that society.
It is mere arrogance for us to try to judge
Cultural Difference
Argument
• 1. Different cultures have
different moral codes (C1 has
code X, and C2 has code Y).
• 2. Therefore, there is no
objective “truth” in morality.
Right and wrong are only
matters of opinion.
Problems with the Cultural
Difference Argument
• It does not follow from the fact that
individuals believe X, that X is in fact
the case.
• There may be objective truth in
morality, even if individuals are not
aware of it.
Consequences of Cultural
Relativism
• We could no longer say that the
customs of other societies are
morally inferior to our own.
• We could decide all questions of
right and wrong by appealing to
current societal practices.
• Problem of moral progress.
Are Cultures Really that
Different?
• Preservation of the young.
• Rules prohibiting the arbitrary taking
of a life.
• Rules of discourse.
Judging Cultures
• (Objective Standards)
• How well do current practices meet
the needs and/or values of a society.
• Is the welfare of the individuals in a
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society better served by a different
moral code.
Valuable Insights of
Cultural Relativism
• Different practices ≠ moral principles
between cultures.
• Moral criticisms vs. Aesthetic
criticisms.