Cultural relativism

Definition

Cultural relativism is the idea that a person's beliefs, values, and practices should be understood based on that person's own culture, rather than be judged against the criteria of another culture. This perspective emphasizes the importance of context in understanding human behavior and challenges the notion of universal standards for judging moral or ethical practices across different societies.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Cultural relativism argues against ethnocentrism by promoting an understanding of different cultures on their own terms, rather than through a biased lens.
2. This concept plays a crucial role in discussions about human rights, as it raises questions about whether universal human rights can exist without imposing a specific cultural viewpoint.
3. Cultural relativism helps to highlight the diversity of practices and beliefs across cultures, illustrating that what may seem morally unacceptable in one culture may be completely normal in another.
4. Critics of cultural relativism argue that it can lead to moral ambiguity, suggesting that all practices, even harmful ones, might be justified simply because they are culturally accepted.
5. In global social contract theory, cultural relativism poses challenges to establishing a common framework for rights and obligations that respects cultural differences while promoting universal principles.

Review Questions

• How does cultural relativism provide a counterpoint to ethnocentrism in understanding global practices?
  • Cultural relativism challenges ethnocentrism by promoting the idea that each culture's beliefs and practices should be viewed in their own context. While ethnocentrism often leads to judging other cultures by one's own cultural standards, cultural relativism encourages understanding and appreciation of diverse practices. This approach fosters greater empathy and tolerance, recognizing that what is deemed acceptable or unacceptable can vary significantly from one culture to another.
• Discuss the implications of cultural relativism for the concept of universal human rights.
  • Cultural relativism has significant implications for universal human rights, as it questions whether such rights can truly be universal when different cultures may have conflicting values. While proponents argue that certain rights should apply to everyone regardless of culture, critics point out that imposing a universal standard might disregard local customs and practices. This tension between universalism and cultural relativism raises important discussions about how to balance respect for cultural differences with the need to protect fundamental human rights.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of cultural relativism in addressing moral dilemmas within global social contracts, considering its strengths and weaknesses.
  • Cultural relativism can be effective in addressing moral dilemmas within global social contracts by promoting respect for diverse values and practices. Its strength lies in fostering understanding and reducing conflicts by acknowledging cultural differences. However, its weakness lies in the potential for moral ambiguity; if all practices are justified through the lens of cultural acceptance, it can become challenging to critique harmful practices. This creates a dilemma when trying to establish a common ground for human rights while honoring cultural diversity.

Related terms

Ethnocentrism: The belief in the superiority of one's own culture, often leading to the evaluation of other cultures based on preconceived standards.

Universalism:

The belief that certain rights or values are universally applicable and should transcend cultural differences.

Social Norms: The accepted behaviors and beliefs within a specific culture that guide how individuals should act in various situations.