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ETHICS REPORT HANDOUT Module 5

This module discusses cultural relativism, which holds that moral norms differ across societies and cultures rather than being universal. It examines both the strengths and weaknesses of this view. The strengths include avoiding moral dictatorship, respecting diverse cultural traditions, and promoting unity. However, problems include potentially tolerating social injustices, rejecting common moral standards, assuming other cultures can't be understood, and increasing vulnerability to discrimination. While culture is relative, respecting other cultures does not mean accepting all practices without question in a globalized world.

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Imae Maunes
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74 views

ETHICS REPORT HANDOUT Module 5

This module discusses cultural relativism, which holds that moral norms differ across societies and cultures rather than being universal. It examines both the strengths and weaknesses of this view. The strengths include avoiding moral dictatorship, respecting diverse cultural traditions, and promoting unity. However, problems include potentially tolerating social injustices, rejecting common moral standards, assuming other cultures can't be understood, and increasing vulnerability to discrimination. While culture is relative, respecting other cultures does not mean accepting all practices without question in a globalized world.

Uploaded by

Imae Maunes
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MODULE 5

“CULTURAL RELATIVISM”

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this module, the students should be able to:
1. define cultural relativism;
2. learn and analyse the strengths and weaknesses of cultural relativism; and
3. draw moral insights from the challenges of cultural relativism.

Cultural Relativism
- Adheres to the idea that ethical
norms differ from one society or
culture to another. Moral norms are
not permanent; they change
according to time, place, and
circumstances.
- Implies that there are no universal
norms of morality, that morality is
different from one culture to another.
If the plurality of cultures is
respected, no culture will be
perceived as superior over the
others.

Tolerance means that people should try to understand and respect the beliefs, traditions,
and practices of the cultures of others.
Missionary anthropologist said, “Take off your shoes because the ground you are
standing on is sacred.”
Another quote bears the essence of cultural relativism: “When you are in Rome, live
as the Romans do.” The feeling and attitude of superiority, intolerance, and impatience
towards cultural differences must be avoided and rejected.
Respect and tolerance are highly encouraged in interacting with other cultures.
However, this comes with the risk that even wrong actions can be tolerated and justified,
blurring the line between right and wrong.

Strengths of Cultural Relativism


1. Cultural relativism helps avoid moral dictatorship.
- Dictators control everything and do not respect the opinions or ideas of others.
Cultural relativism respects diversity and the plurality of rich cultural and
historical traditions.

2. Cultural relativism respects the beliefs of different cultures.


- Cultural relativism does not insult or question the ability of other cultures to
make intelligent and sound moral judgment.

3. Cultural relativism promotes unity and harmony among cultures.

1
- Cultural relativism counters the attitude of intolerance, arrogance, and
dominance. Cultural relativism promotes deeper understanding and respect
which is the key to better relationships among diverse cultures.

Problems of Cultural Relativism


1. Tolerance and acceptance of social injustices and inhumane activities
- Though it has its own strengths, cultural relativism also has negative
implications. It is possible that it will make people turn a blind eye to the plight
of the marginalized in the name of cultural plurality.

2. Rejection of higher universal or common moral standards


- Cultural relativism reduces morality to customs, traditions, and cultural
preferences. The idea of good or bad, of wrong or right depends on the
accepted practices in one’s culture.

3. Assumption that knowledge of other culture is impossible


- Cultural relativism assumes that it is impossible to fully understand and
immerse oneself in a foreign culture because people come from different
cultural backgrounds. Therefore, no one is in the position to judge or criticize a
person from a different culture.

4. Vulnerability to racial discrimination


- Cultural relativism rejects a universal sense of humanity by claiming that each
culture is unique and different. The truth is, despite cultural differences all
humans share the same traits as human species.
-

Culture is relative. Cultural relativism implies that there are no universal norms
of morality.
With globalization, the atmosphere of increasing global cooperation and unity at
present requires understanding foreign cultures. However, respect and
tolerance do not mean that all ideas and practices, no matter how wrong they
are will be accepted and supported.
Standards of behaviour must be understood within the context of the common
good of humanity.

DISCUSSANT:
JOANNIE MAE P. LAMELA BEED – 4

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