Quarter 1 – Module 3:
Cultural
Relativism
Cultural Relativism
Refers to an objective analysis of one’s own
culture – seeing and understanding of one’s
beliefs and traditions from his/her own point of
view. It also entails not to judge the practices of
others based on your own culture; hence,
respecting it in their own cultural context.
Cultural Relativism
According to James Rachels (2003), the following claims have all been made by
cultural relativists:
1. Each society has a diverse set of moral conducts.
2. The rightfulness of an action within a society is
primarily determined by the moral standards of that
society.
3. There is no objective standard that can be used as a
basis of comparison among societies.
4. The moral code of our own society is just part of a larger
body of morality and ethical standards.
5. High tolerance among all culture must be exercised
always.
Cultural Relativism
However, in his critical analysis, he also posited some observations
and consequences of accepting cultural relativism.
1. It is difficult to determine if the custom of other societies
is morally inferior to others.
2. The decision whether actions are right or wrong can be
done just by consulting the standards of our society.
3. The idea of moral progress is always questionable.
4. The objective criticism of one’s own culture is shallow.
5. There will be no idea of moral progress because of
acceptance of other’s culture.
Ruth Benedict (1887–1948), an anthropologist,
argued that each culture has an internally consistent
pattern of thoughts and actions, which alone could be the
basis for judging the merits and morality of the culture’s
practices. Cultural relativism requires an open mind and
a willingness to consider, and even adapt to, new values
and norms. The logic of cultural relativism is at the basis
of contemporary policies of multiculturalism.
Multiculturalism refers to both the fact of the
existence of a diversity of cultures within one territory
and to a way of conceptualizing and managing cultural
diversity.
Group 4 USCP Reporters:
Jacuba, Trisha Nicole G.
Navarro, Leanna Dominique B.
Paran, Eugene Paul M.
Sanguila, Hamza M.