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Relativism
“Cultural Relativism” William
Graham Sumner
Account of the origin of the notions of
“true” and “right”
 Development of folkways from true and
right.
 Movement from folkways to mores.
 Implications for morality

Origin of “true” and “right”
Truth is tied to the utility of a course of
action
 Instrumental Rationality
 The term “right” applies to the evaluation
or endorsement of a particular “device” or
way of doing things.

Folkways as the right ways

Folkways gain acceptance (are deemed
right) because of their instrumental
rationality.
Right=traditions
 Wrong=taboos


Traditions are not subject to verification by
experience.
Examples of folkways
World philosophy
 Life policy
 Right
 Rights
 Morality

Ethnocentrism
Ethnocentrism: the view that one’s own
group is the center of everything, and all
others are scaled and rated with reference
to it.
 Each group believes its way of doing
things, its folkways, are the only right ways
of doing things.

From folkways to mores
Mores: the development of the elements of
truth and right into doctrines of welfare.
 Mores are capable of producing inferences
 Mores can themselves develop into new
forms.
 Mores tell us what ought to be the case,
that is, mores often manifest themselves in
the social codes of a society.

General Features of Cultural
Relativism





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Different societies have different moral codes.
There is no objective standard that can 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 the
conduct of other peoples.
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 society
better served by a different moral code.
Valuable Insights of Cultural
Relativism

Different practices ≠ moral principles
between cultures.

Moral criticisms vs. Aesthetic criticisms.