Individual Relativism and Cultural

Relativism

By

Anthony J. Fejfar B.A., J.D., Esq., Coif

© Copyright 2008 by Anthony J. Fejfar

Some have argued that the nature of ethics and reality is cultural relativism.

I, on the other hand, argue that the better approach is individual relativism. Cultural

relativism is absurd. There is no normative culture and it is simply an arbitrary

imposition to force a particular cultural stance down anyone else’s throat. One can also

argue that there really is no particular culture at all. Perhaps every notion of culture is

simply a reified concept which has no real referent. What is the culture that one might

choose, male? Female? White? Black? South Chicago?, North Omaha? Mexico?

USA? Trojan (USC or ancient)? Cornhusker?, Nittany Lions? Ireland? Prague?

Moscow? Potsdam? Detroit? Pittsburgh? Rome? The list of possibilities are virtually

endless.

The better choice is to choose individual relativism based upon individual

Experience, Understanding, Judgement, and Reflection (Lonergan). This move is much

more compelling than cultural relativism and potentially leads to authentically subjective

results. This parallels a better understanding of the scientific method than logical

positivism. If Derrida and cultural diversity is dead, cultural relativism is DOA dead

on arrival.