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Lecture 4 :The Challenges of Cultural Relativism

Lecture 4 :The Challenges of Cultural Relativism. Introduction to Moral Issues. What is Cultural Relativism?. The idea that universal truths in ethics are myths. Customs cannot be “correct or incorrect” There are only various cultural codes, and nothing more. Cultural Differences Argument.

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Lecture 4 :The Challenges of Cultural Relativism

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  1. Lecture 4 :The Challenges of Cultural Relativism Introduction to Moral Issues

  2. What is Cultural Relativism? • The idea that universal truths in ethics are myths. • Customs cannot be “correct or incorrect” • There are only various cultural codes, and nothing more

  3. Cultural Differences Argument • Form of the argument: • 1. The Greeks believed it was wrong to eat the dead, whereas the Callatians believed it was right to eat the dead • 2. Therefore eating the dead is neither objectively right nor objectively wrong. It is merely a matter of opinion that varies from culture to culture. • 1. Different cultures have different moral codes • 2. Therefore there is no objective “truth” in morality.Right and wrong are only matters of opinion, and opinions vary from culture to culture.

  4. Logical form The cultural differences argument is not sound The conclusion does not follow from the premises Even if the premises are true the conclusion may still be false Example: In some societies , people believe the earth is flat. In other societies people believe earth is spherical. Just because people disagree, it does not mean that there is no objective truth

  5. What would it be like if cultural relativism were true? • We could no longer say that the customs of other societies are morally inferior to our own. • We could decide whether actions are right or wrong just by consulting the standards of our society • E.G. Apartheid laws in South Africa • Cultural relativism not only forbids us from criticizing the codes of other societies , it also stops us from criticizing our own. • The idea of Moral progress is called into doubt. • Cultural relativism allows for a limited progress….If a society is not living up to its own ideals, the reformer may be regarded as acting for the best, the ideals of the society are the standard by which we judge his or her proposals as worth while.

  6. Why there is less disagreement than it seems • Many factors work together to produce the customs of a society. • Values • Religious beliefs • Factual beliefs • Physical circumstances of ones life • The difference in customs may be attributable to some other aspect of social life

  7. Eskimo baby girls may not be killed due to a different attitude toward children, but rather a necessity for a family's survival. • The Eskimos’ values are not all that different from our values. It is only that life forces upon them choices that we do not have to make.

  8. How all cultures have some values in common • Some values must be somewhat universal • If not there would be difficulties in communication • What would a society that condoned murder be like? • There are moral rules that all societies must have in common , because those rules are necessary for society to exist.

  9. Is there a culture-neutral standard of right and wrong? • We have to ask, “Does the practice promote or hinder the welfare of the people whose lives are affected by it? • Is there an alternative set of social arrangements that would do a better job of promoting the welfare.

  10. Why are we reluctant to criticize? • There is a nervousness in interfering in the social customs of other peoples • But there is a difference between judging a cultural practice to be deficient, and thinking that we should announce the fact, conduct a campaign, apply diplomatic pressure, or send in the army. • People believe is adhering to tolerance…perhaps giving the benefit of the doubt. • People may be reluctant to judge because they do not want to express contempt for the society being criticized. But that doesn’t mean the entire culture is contemptible.

  11. What can be learned from cultural relativism? • Cultural relativism warns us, about the danger of assuming that all our preferences are based on some absolute rational standard. • We must keep an open mind. Cultural relativism is based on genuine insight, that many of the practices and attitudes we think so natural are really only cultural products. Keeping this thought firmly in view is important if we want to avoid arrogance and have open minds.

  12. Valentines Day • What are your thoughts about celebrating the concept of love? • My valentine from yesterday:

  13. In India: • “While most people would regard Valentine’s Day as a harmless, light-hearted diversion, to extreme right-wing Hindus and ultra-nationalists, the holiday represents a dire threat to traditional Indian values and represent part of what they believe is a conspiracy by the West to destroy Indian culture.” • http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/288257/20120126/india-valentine-s-day-shiv-sena-protest.htm

  14. Different Values on Love & Marriage • How do you feel about arranged marriage? • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=henmRGf_67k

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