Cultural relativism?

Question

Basically, is this something that as far as morals go what one culture views one way another culture might see it in a completly different way?

Answer 1

Pretty much. Cultural relativism holds that "good" means what is "socially approved" by the majority in a given culture. Infanticide, for example, isn't good or bad objectively; rather it's good in a society that approves of it, but bad in one that disapproves of it.

Cultural relativists see morality as a product of culture. They think that societies disagree widely about morality, and that we have no clear way to resolve the differences. They conclude that there are no objective values. Cultural relativists view themselves as tolerant; they see other cultures, not as "wrong," but as "different."

Answer 2

What is your question? That this is a definition of cultural relativism? Yes, yes it is.

If you are asking if culutral relativism is a good theory, no its not. While there is no doubt that different cultures do have different values, and that at least some values are relative, it is obvious that there are some values found in all cultures. All cultures see murder as a bad thing. Even in cultures where murder is sometimes allowed, there are certain criteria it must meet in order to be allowed. Plus, nobody is really a cultural relativist. There are at least some actions that you would try to prevent a person from another culture from doing. If they were going to set off a nuclear bomb and kill a lot of innocent people, you would say that they should be stopped, even if their culture claims this is good.

Answer 3

It says that differing viewpoints are all equally valid.

A group that jails rapists and counsels their victims has one set of values.

A group that stones a girl to death for being raped has a 'different' set of values.

See? It's total rubbish.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/minette_marrin/article2604019.ece

Answer 4

Perhaps. Ethics and formal logic tend to be quite similar in most traditions though.

Answer 5

Think so.
There's a lot to be said for it: I knew a Muslim who would not listen to any American music...he thought it was all sinful and decadent.

Answer 6

have to agree with ya there.