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“The Challenge of Cultural Relativism”
The Elements of Moral Philosophy (James Rachels)
Rachels’ Analysis
• Cultural Relativism Claims
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Different Societies have different moral codes
No objective standards in ethics
Moral code of one’s society has no special status
Every moral standard is culture-bound
No universal moral values or norms
A Distinction
• Cultural relativism vs. Ethical relativism
• Cultural relativism: there are differences and norms
from among cultures
• Ethical relativism: there is no objective standard or
test among the moral standards among cultures.
There are no universal or objective standards of
conduct.
• Rachels: cultural relativism = ethical relativism
Cultural Differences Argument
• General Form
• Premise: Different codes and practices exist.
• Conclusion: Therefore, there is no objective “truth” in
morality.
• Fallacy
• What is believed to what is reality.
• Counterexamples: earth is flat, center of universe
Unacceptable Consequences of Cultural
Relativism
• Criticizing other cultures
• e.g. apartheid, Nazi Germany
• Criticizing one’s own culture
• e.g. slavery, discrimination
Differences in Belief Systems; Commonality of
Ethical Values
• Beliefs about physical environment/ factual
understanding of the world
• e.g. Callatians and Greeks beliefs about death
• commonality as respect for parents
• Pressures of physical environment
• e.g. Eskimos and role of males as hunters
• commonality as value for offspring
Common Values: Society and Business
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Back to fundamental principles of a social contract: Rules necessary
for society to exist and for business to function
Society
• Protecting offspring
• Murder
• Truth telling
Business
• Honoring contracts and agreements
• Truth telling
• Trust and credibility
Lessons and Insights of Cultural
Relativism
• Tolerance
• of customs and alternative practices
• fundamental values or principles may be similar
• Open mindedness
• examining prejudices and biases
• Danger of assuming absolute standards
• conviction of beliefs can lead to hubris (arrogance,
excess, pride), the worst of the Greek vices