LESSON 7: CULTURAL RELATIVISM

Relativism says “what is true for you is true for you, and what is true for me is true for me”.
Analogously, cultural relativism would say “what you believe, value or practice depends on your culture
while what I believe, value and practice, depends on my culture.
Cultural Relativism – is “the idea that a person’s beliefs, values, and practices should be
understood based on that person’s own culture, rather than be judged against the criteria of another.”
- is the view that moral or ethical systems, which vary from culture, are all equally
valid and no one system is really “better” that any other. This is based on the idea
that there is no ultimate standard of good or evil, so every judgment about right and
wrong is a product of society. Therefore, an opinion on morality or ethics is subject
to the cultural perspective of each person. Ultimately, this means that no moral or
ethical system can be considered the “best” or “worst” and no particular moral or
ethical position can actually be considered “right” or “wrong”.
- is the ability to understand a culture on its own terms and not to make judgments
using the standards of one’s own culture.
- is considered to be more constructive and positive conception as compared to
ethnocentrism. It permits to see an individual’s habits, values and morals in the
context of his or her cultural relevance not by comparing it to one’s own cultural
values and by deeming these the most superior and greater of all.
- is a method or procedure for explaining and interpreting other people’s culture.
- is widely accepted in modern anthropology. Cultural relativists believe that all
culture are worthy in their own right and are of equal value.
- is closely related to ethical relativism, which views truth as variable and not
absolute. What constitutes right and wrong is determined solely by the individual or
by society.
- sees nothing inherently wrong (and nothing inherently good) with any cultural
expression.

Cultural Relativism vs Cultural Perspective

A perspective – is a standpoint or viewpoint of something. If we hold on to strict cultural
relativism, it is not possible to say that human sacrifice is “wrong” or that respect for the elderly is
“right”. After all, those are products of the culture. This takes any talk of morality right over the cliff,
and into meaningless gibberish.
Relativism in general breaks down when examined from a purely logical perspective. The basic
premise is that “truth is relative”. If every truth statement is valid, then the statement “some truths are
absolute” must be valid. The statement “there are no absolute truths” is accurate, according to
relativism – but it is an absolute truth itself. This contradicts the very concept of relativism, meaning that
absolute relativism is self-contradictory and impossible.

Advantages of cultural relativism:

1. It is a system which promotes cooperation. For the most part, humanity is strong because of
the differences we all have. Every individual has a different perspective that is based on their
upbringing, experiences, and personal thoughts. By embracing the many differences, we have,
the cooperation creates the potential for a stronger bonds with one another and potentially
achieve more because there are no limitations from a group level and what can or cannot be
accomplished.
 2. It creates a society where equality is possible. In any society, people rise by climbing on top of
other people. Cultural relativism allows the individual to define their moral code without
defining the moral code of others. Each person is separate in such a society. That separation
creates equality because each person can set his/her own definition of success.
3. People can pursue a genuine interest. In the modern society, people are funneled toward
certain career options because of their circumstances. In cultural relativism, you get to pursue
your own interest without restriction. You set the definitions of what you can have and what
you cannot have. When implemented successfully, each person would get to focus on his/her
strengths instead of his/her weaknesses.
4. Respect is encouraged in a system of cultural relativism. People come from different cultures.
They have different ideas. They pursue different definitions of success. Because such a system
promotes the individual’s definition instead of a group definition, a society can evolve because
there is a natural level of respect built into the process. Each person is naturally given the right
to pursue life through his/her own specific perspective and then learn from his/her experiences
in a way that works best for him/her.
5. It preserved human cultures. Humanity is a very diverse set of thoughts, traditions, ideas, and
practices. Many times, the traditions of humanity are set aside so that a set of standards can be
appeased.
6. Cultural relativism creates a society without judgment. We are so trained to judge others in
today’s world that we don’t even give it a second thought. Under the theory of cultural
relativism, judgment goes away. The only person that judges you is yourself. People who might
disagree with you are able to set their own codes and standards for their own individualistic
bubble. Instead of worrying about others, you only worry about yourself.
7. Moral relativism can be excluded from cultural relativism. Each culture can be treated as an
individual under the theory of cultural relativism. This means the moral codes of a culture can be
defined and an expectation implemented that people follow it. Although other cultures may not
set up such restriction and others might say such a restriction isn’t a true form of cultural
relativism, people in such a system can do what makes the most sense for them. You’re focusing
on the customs of a culture, not the morality that is imposed upon those customs.
8. We can create personal moral codes based on societal standards with ease. To determine if a
decision would be “right” or “wrong”, cultural relativism allows individuals to consult with the
standards of their society or culture. It is a simple test to determine the course that a person
should take in such a circumstance.
9. It stops cultural conditioning. People tend to adapt their attitudes, thoughts, and beliefs to the
people they are with on a regular basis. This is cultural conditioning and it prevents people from
having an individualistic perspective. Cultural relativism stop this.

The disadvantages are as follows:

1. It creates a system that is fueled by personal bias. Every society has a certain natural bias to it
because of how humanity operates. People tend to prefer to be with others who have similar
thoughts and feelings, so they segregate themselves into neighborhoods, communities and social
groups that share specific perspectives. When people are given the power to define their own
moral code, then they will do so based on their own personal bias. There is no longer a group
perspective. People follow their own code at the expense of others.
2. It would create chaos. People who can follow their own moral code because there is no “wrong” or
“right” would be allowed to pursue any life they preferred under the theory of cultural relativism.
 There is no real way to protect people in such a society, so each person becomes responsible to
protect themselves.
3. It is an idea that is based on the perfection of humanity. Many people strive to do good every day.
Most want to see everyone have the chance to pursue happiness in some way. That is why the idea
of cultural relativism often seems to be inviting. The only problem is that people are not perfect.
4. It could promote a lack of diversity. Cultural relativism promotes an individualistic point of view, so
although it seems to promote diversity, it actually removes it from a society. The only standards
that are in place are those which are set by the individual involved, which means everyone is
pursuing his/her own position of strength. We cannot create diversity when the emphasis of a
society is individualistic gain that can come at the expense of others.
5. It draws people away from one another. Although cultural relativism can promote people coming
together to share their strengths, it can also encourage people to draw apart from one another.
Because each person is uncertain of what codes and standards another is following, the natural
inclination for self-preservation causes people to draw away.
6. It could limit moral progress. When we look at the idea of moral progress, we think of becoming
more inclusionary instead of exclusionary. This inclusion is reflected in the laws and customs of the
culture.
7. It could limit humanity’s progress. We often think of the concept of cultural relativism as
progression, but it isn’t necessary that way. When you remove the ability to judge one standard
from another, then the comparative process of placing a current society or culture against a past
one is removed as well. No definition of success can be implemented because each is successful in
its own way.
8. Cultural relativism can turn perceptions into truth. In the world of cultural relativism, that bias
become a truth that can be acted upon. The decision of the act becomes a righteous one because
of the individual truth that the cultured allowed through the bias it perpetrates.