What is a claim of Cultural Relativism?

Question

Choices:
1.) Correct moral evaluations do not consider the circumstances of the action.
2.) Differences among cultural moral standards are based on non-moral facts.
3.) Moral truth is based on social norms so universal moral truth does not exist.
4.) Culturals across the world and over time agree on certain fundamental moral truths.

Answer 1

None of the above. Cultural Relativism was born as a response to Social Darwinism. It merely points out that costumes, music, food and other items of CULTURE, are relative. While some may claim that because the Aztecs performed Human Sacrafices, and were morally inferior to the Spainards (lets gloss over the deaths of heretics continually offered up to God during that period by the Inquisition), therefore they must also have been culturally inferior; and being culturally inferior, it was okay to destroy their literature, architecture and melt down as much of the beautiful gold work as possible. In the nineteenth century, as the Polynesians were having their cultures destroyed, people like Captain John Wilkes began to wonder if we weren't losing something that could enrich all humanity.

The problem is that Cultural relativism bled into humanism and that led some people of the early twentieth century to posit a total moral relativism. But really, the two are not directly related.

Answer 2

3

Answer 3

3

Answer 4

3

Answer 5

As a matter of fact, there is nothing good or bad universally. Good for one is bad for another. These two terms are relative terms with respect to the environment in which they are used.

Saddam Can be bad for Europe but good for some in Iraq. Its all how we look at them.

Even the habits differ from culture to culture. When hugging is considered as formal in some places, it is considered as purely personal in some other places.

There is nothing called 'Universal Truth' and 'Universal False'. All based on the acceptance of the society.

Answer 6

If there was ANY cultural relativism slavery would never have happened, and racism would have never happened. The answer is simple, there is no cultural relativism because most people don't try to understand different cultures but there own.

Answer 7

3. Moral truth is based on social norms so universal moral truth does not exist.
Great question; thanks for giving me some always-welcome mental exercise!