When in Rome, When in Rome,

do as the do as the
Romans do Romans do
:t:7a Reativism :t:7a Reativism
When in Rome, do as When in Rome, do as
the Romans do the Romans do
:t:7a Reativism :t:7a Reativism
When in Rome, do as the Romans do When in Rome, do as the Romans do
1here are no absolute standards or moral 1here are no absolute standards or moral
judgment judgment
Lthical Relatiism: there is no moral truth that Lthical Relatiism: there is no moral truth that
applies to all people at all times applies to all people at all times
Protagoras: Man is the measure o all things` Protagoras: Man is the measure o all things`
No ethical system is better than another No ethical system is better than another
My way is no better or worse than your way My way is no better or worse than your way
&%&RA DIVLRSI% &%&RA DIVLRSI%
hy do we lie the way we do hy do we lie the way we do
1he path toward cultural relatiism begins with the 1he path toward cultural relatiism begins with the
acknowledgement o cultural diersity acknowledgement o cultural diersity
Culture aects behaiour. Culture aects ethics. Culture aects behaiour. Culture aects ethics.
American culture is dierent rom Kenyan culture. American culture is dierent rom Kenyan culture.
Kenyan culture is dierent rom Chinese culture. Kenyan culture is dierent rom Chinese culture.
Len within Kenya cultures and their traditions dier: Len within Kenya cultures and their traditions dier:
Kamba, Kikuyu, Maasai, Luo, Luyah, etc. Kamba, Kikuyu, Maasai, Luo, Luyah, etc.
Lxamples Lxamples
A %hings a7e Lq:a A %hings a7e Lq:a
Cultural Relatiism says that it is not Cultural Relatiism says that it is not
each person, but each person`s culture, each person, but each person`s culture,
that is the standard by which actions that is the standard by which actions
are to be measured. are to be measured.
Society Society
Lery society must hae structure and order Lery society must hae structure and order
1his includes ethical standards 1his includes ethical standards
1hese dier rom place to place, culture to 1hese dier rom place to place, culture to
culture culture
People are obligated to ollow the norms o the People are obligated to ollow the norms o the
society in which they lie society in which they lie
\et, is there no general standard by which \et, is there no general standard by which
ethical choices are measured ethical choices are measured
%he P7obem %he P7obem
Can we conclude that one ethical answer is as Can we conclude that one ethical answer is as
good as another good as another
In a culture where cannibalism exists, should we In a culture where cannibalism exists, should we
accept that as ethically okay` just because its accept that as ethically okay` just because its
part o that culture part o that culture
Should two diering answers to the same Should two diering answers to the same
concise question be accepted as both right concise question be accepted as both right
ow do we know what is right ow do we know what is right
or what is wrong or what is wrong
2 - 2 ~ 4 2 - 2 ~ 4
ho says so ho says so
2 - 2 ~ 5 2 - 2 ~ 5
Oh, yeah Oh, yeah
2 - 2 ~ 3 2 - 2 ~ 3
ognitive Reativism ognitive Reativism
All truths are judged by cultural standards All truths are judged by cultural standards
1ruth is always rom a cultural perspectie 1ruth is always rom a cultural perspectie
1he culture is the ilter through which an ethical 1he culture is the ilter through which an ethical
system is deeloped system is deeloped
Our social background does not just inluence Our social background does not just inluence
how we see reality, it also creates the only reality how we see reality, it also creates the only reality
we know. we know.
Lxampes Lxampes
\ou want to plan a uture eent, do you: \ou want to plan a uture eent, do you:
Check the weather orecast Check the weather orecast
Consult a psychic Consult a psychic
Read the intestines o a chicken Read the intestines o a chicken
Conduct a poll to see i it will be attended Conduct a poll to see i it will be attended
Ask the illage chie to require attendance Ask the illage chie to require attendance
Or, just trust ate that eerything will work out Or, just trust ate that eerything will work out
ognitive Reativism cont.. ognitive Reativism cont..
Cultural,Cognitie Relatiism would answer Cultural,Cognitie Relatiism would answer
all o the preious questions with a all o the preious questions with a
resounding resounding
\LS! \LS!
It just depends on what your culture has It just depends on what your culture has
determined as the proper approach to the determined as the proper approach to the
uture. A witch doctor`s reading o a uture. A witch doctor`s reading o a
chicken`s intestines is just as alid as a chicken`s intestines is just as alid as a
scientiic poll o the community. scientiic poll o the community.
Reativistic %7:th Reativistic %7:th
It is true that eery person is shaped and one`s It is true that eery person is shaped and one`s
thoughts are edited by our cultural norms. thoughts are edited by our cultural norms.
Relatiism takes this to the point o saying that no Relatiism takes this to the point o saying that no
outsider has the right to judge or change any outsider has the right to judge or change any
culture`s iew o truth. culture`s iew o truth.
NO L1ICAL JUDGMLN1 CAN BL NO L1ICAL JUDGMLN1 CAN BL
APPLILD ACROSS CUL1URAL LINLS APPLILD ACROSS CUL1URAL LINLS
o7a J:dgment o7a J:dgment
Relatiism does not deend one ethical system Relatiism does not deend one ethical system
oer another oer another
Accepted practices proide the moral judgment Accepted practices proide the moral judgment
o the society o the society
Social enironment produces the standards we Social enironment produces the standards we
lie by lie by
\et, cultural relatiism is not anarchy and \et, cultural relatiism is not anarchy and
personal ree personal ree--choice o moral judgment choice o moral judgment
Melille erskoits: Melille erskoits:
:9:7, :9:7, relatiism, in all cases, must be relatiism, in all cases, must be
sharply distinguished rom the concept o sharply distinguished rom the concept o
the relatiity o indiidual behaiour the relatiity o indiidual behaiour
|extreme relatiism|, which would negate |extreme relatiism|, which would negate
all social contracts oer conduct. all social contracts oer conduct.
Conormity to the code o the group is a Conormity to the code o the group is a
requirement or any regularity in lie.` ,33, requirement or any regularity in lie.` ,33,
P7obem P7obem
\our neighbour murders his child with ull sanity \our neighbour murders his child with ull sanity
knowingly and willingly killing the child by tying, knowingly and willingly killing the child by tying,
gagging, and burning him. gagging, and burning him.
VS VS
A tribesman in South America takes his child, ties A tribesman in South America takes his child, ties
him, gags him, and burns him as a itting him, gags him, and burns him as a itting
sacriice to his god, which is a cultural norm. sacriice to his god, which is a cultural norm.
oas of Reativism oas of Reativism
A practical means o achieing a more peaceul A practical means o achieing a more peaceul
and tolerant world in which eery culture lies as and tolerant world in which eery culture lies as
they see it they see it
Acceptance o ethnocentricity as the norm or Acceptance o ethnocentricity as the norm or
ethical,moral judgment ethical,moral judgment
Lie and let lie Lie and let lie
e are not to conince others but to accept e are not to conince others but to accept
others with mutual respect others with mutual respect
P7obem P7obem
\ou accept the rights o another culture to \ou accept the rights o another culture to
hae its own belies and moral system hae its own belies and moral system
BU1 BU1
1hat culture`s iew o moral obligation is to 1hat culture`s iew o moral obligation is to
destroy any culture that does not beliee destroy any culture that does not beliee
the way that it beliees the way that it beliees
Positives of Reativism Positives of Reativism
e can be enriched by diersity and diering e can be enriched by diersity and diering
perspecties perspecties
It causes us to question our cultural approaches It causes us to question our cultural approaches
and our belies that our culture is the only and our belies that our culture is the only
culture culture
It causes us to see the need to adapt the absolute It causes us to see the need to adapt the absolute
truths we hold to it into a dierent culture. truths we hold to it into a dierent culture.
Potentia P7obems Potentia P7obems
ho gets to be God ho gets to be God
Do moral principles ary Do moral principles ary
Is relatiism sel Is relatiism sel--contradictory contradictory
Is moral improement possible Is moral improement possible
Is tolerance always good Is tolerance always good
GROUP DISCUSSIONS GROUP DISCUSSIONS
Clearly, the act that cultures do not agree on Clearly, the act that cultures do not agree on
right and wrong does not proe that right and wrong does not proe that
absolutism is alse. absolutism is alse.
ABSOLU1ISM: ABSOLU1ISM:
1he belie that an objectie right and wrong 1he belie that an objectie right and wrong
exists which applies to all people at all exists which applies to all people at all
times. times.
Lthica Abso:tes Lthica Abso:tes
Maintains its alidity under any and eery Maintains its alidity under any and eery
circumstance, no matter what circumstance, no matter what
Immanuel Kant: Immanuel Kant:
1he Good ill acts out o respect or moral law. 1he Good ill acts out o respect or moral law.
It is absolutely alid in nature because it is good It is absolutely alid in nature because it is good
in any context and has a worth that cannot be in any context and has a worth that cannot be
calculated because it surpasses all alues in calculated because it surpasses all alues in
exchange. exchange.
Maintains a norm that is sel Maintains a norm that is sel--propagating and is propagating and is
aboe question or reproach. aboe question or reproach.
Soren Kierkegaard argues against absolutes: Soren Kierkegaard argues against absolutes:
1rouble arises when the ethical standpoint is 1rouble arises when the ethical standpoint is
absolutized and becomes ree o any critical absolutized and becomes ree o any critical
antage point beyond itsel. 1he result o antage point beyond itsel. 1he result o
absolutism is legalism` and moralism`. I absolutism is legalism` and moralism`. I
ethics do not unction within the concepts o ethics do not unction within the concepts o
mercy and orgieness, then ethics will mercy and orgieness, then ethics will
absolutize with eil consequences. absolutize with eil consequences.
Abso:tes vs. Reativism Abso:tes vs. Reativism
NORMS: general moral principles and rules NORMS: general moral principles and rules
accepted within a culture or religion that dictate accepted within a culture or religion that dictate
the ealuation o actions and consequences. the ealuation o actions and consequences.
RLLA1IVL L1ICS: moral actions are RLLA1IVL L1ICS: moral actions are
ealuated according to situation, context, and ealuated according to situation, context, and
circumstances. Lach situation requires its own circumstances. Lach situation requires its own
determination o ethical action according to the determination o ethical action according to the
circumstances o the action required. circumstances o the action required.
Lxampe Lxampe
1hou shalt not kill` 1hou shalt not kill`
VS. VS.
1he Death Penalty or Murder 1he Death Penalty or Murder
hen is it allowable or a human to take another hen is it allowable or a human to take another
human`s lie Is the sanctity o lie more human`s lie Is the sanctity o lie more
important than the consequences or taking it important than the consequences or taking it
onf:sion in Reative Lthics onf:sion in Reative Lthics
Should loe o persons oershadow rules when Should loe o persons oershadow rules when
many rules are designed to protect persons many rules are designed to protect persons
I principles and rules are or illumination and I principles and rules are or illumination and
are neer absolute, then do we hae no law at all are neer absolute, then do we hae no law at all
,antinomianism, ,antinomianism,
Can we truly trust human capacities or reason Can we truly trust human capacities or reason
and or doing the right thing and or doing the right thing
Can we interpret the right ethical decision when Can we interpret the right ethical decision when
the situation itsel requires personal the situation itsel requires personal
interpretation interpretation
L1NOCLN1RICI1\: An indiidual`s belie L1NOCLN1RICI1\: An indiidual`s belie
that his or her ethnic circumstances are the that his or her ethnic circumstances are the
center o the human race. center o the human race.
1he moral standards and racial superiority o 1he moral standards and racial superiority o
one`s ethnicity is the basis or ethical decisions one`s ethnicity is the basis or ethical decisions
regarding other peoples. I you do not look like regarding other peoples. I you do not look like
me or talk like me then you are not as good as me or talk like me then you are not as good as
me. me.
My Race is Better than your Race!!` My Race is Better than your Race!!`
When in Rome . . . When in Rome . . .
hat makes Roman culture better than another hat makes Roman culture better than another
hy should I behae like a Roman just because I hy should I behae like a Roman just because I
am in Rome am in Rome
\ SOULD I BLAVL LIKL \ SOULD I BLAVL LIKL
LVLR\BOD\ LLSL JUS1 BLCAUSL L LVLR\BOD\ LLSL JUS1 BLCAUSL L
ARL lROM 1L SAML CUL1URL ARL lROM 1L SAML CUL1URL
My boss is a thie, do I need to be a thie My boss is a thie, do I need to be a thie
My neighbor is unaithul to his wie, do I need to My neighbor is unaithul to his wie, do I need to
be unaithul to mine be unaithul to mine