The Consequences of Taking Cultural Relativism Seriously
Cultural Relativism: Is it Sound?
Cultural Relativism, says, in effect, that there is no such thing as universal truth in ethics; there are only the various cultural codes, and nothing more.
Moreover, our own code has no special status; it is merely one among many.
What are the Consequences of Taking Cultural Relativism Seriously?
Philosophy author James Rachels and Filipino Philosophy professor Jensen DG. Mañebog enumerate the following corollaries if we were to subscribe to Cultural Relativism:
1. We could no longer say that the customs of other societies are morally inferior to our own.
The theory would preclude us from criticizing other, malevolent practices. Suppose a society waged war on its neighbors for the purpose of taking slaves, as in the movie Apocalypto by Mel Gibson.
Or suppose a society was violently anti-Semitic (or anti-Muslim) and its leaders set out to destroy the Jews (or the Muslims). Cultural Relativism would ban us from saying that either of these practices was wrong.
If we took Cultural Relativism seriously, we would have to regard slavery, and anti-Semitism (or anti-Muslim), and the like as immune from criticism.
2. We could decide whether actions are right or wrong just by consulting the standards of our society.
Cultural Relativism suggests a simplistic test for determining what is right and what is wrong—one just needs to ask whether the action is in accordance with the code of his society.
Suppose in 1975, Rachels exemplifies, a resident of South Africa was wondering whether his country’s policy of apartheid—a rigidly racist system—was morally correct.
All he has to do is ask whether this policy conformed to his society’s moral code. If it did, there would have been nothing to worry about, at least from a moral point of view.
Rachels describes his implication of Cultural Relativism as “disturbing because few of us think that our society’s code is perfect; we can think of ways it might be improved.
Yet Cultural Relativism would not only forbid us from criticizing the codes of other societies; it would stop us from criticizing our own.”
3. The idea of moral progress is called into doubt.
Rachels mentions of the place of women in society throughout most of history which was “narrowly circumscribed”—they could not own property; they could not vote or hold political office; and generally they were under the almost absolute control of their husbands.
Recently much of this has changed, and most people think of it as progress.
But if Cultural Relativism is correct, we cannot legitimately think of this as progress. Progress means replacing a way of doing things with a better way. But by what standard do we judge the new ways as better in Cultural Relativism?
If the old ways were in accordance with the social standards of their time, then Cultural Relativism would say it is a mistake to judge them by the standards of a different time.The same principle applies to “social reform.” Jose P. Rizal and Martin Luther King, Jr. who have sought to change their societies may not be necessarily regarded as “reformers’ in Cultural Relativism … continue reading
Also watch this short video about Ethics:
For STUDENTS’ ASSIGNMENT:
Write your COMMENT here: Moral Standards and Non-Moral Standards (Difference and Characteristics)
*If you want to know about other topics in Ethics and Philosophy (e.g. reason and impartiality, etc.), search here:
Related: Cultural Relativism: A challenge in Ethics
Also Check Out: From Socrates to Mill: An Analysis of Prominent Ethical Theories, also by author Jensen DG. Mañebog
So what do you think? Is cultural relativism sound? Why or why not?
Also Check Out: From Socrates to Mill: An Analysis of Prominent Ethical Theories, also by author Jensen DG. Mañebog
IMPORTANT:
TO STUDENTS (and their friends/relatives): For your comments NOT to be DELETED by the system, pls SUBSCRIBE first (if you have not subscribed yet). Thanks.
=====
To post comment, briefly watch this related short video:
To STUDENTS:
Write your ASSIGNMENT here: Comments of RATIONAL STUDENTS or here: Mga Komento ng MASISIPAG MAG-ARAL