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Nathan Nobis, Ph.D. - Philosophy Professor and MoreNathan Nobis, Ph.D. - Philosophy Professor and More

CV Publications Courses 1000 W ord Philosophy Abortion book Animals & Ethics 101 Ethics (T ext)Book Philosophical Counseling Writ

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"Cultural Relativism" or "Moral Relativism" or "Ethical Relativism" or "Relativism"

H ere i s a s h ort w ritin g t o b ette r u nders ta n d a m ora l t h eo ry c alle d " C ultu ra l R ela tiv is m " o r " M ora l R ela tiv is m " o r " E th ic al R ela tiv is m ." S ee

b elo w t h e f o ld f o r t h e d eta ils :

T o m otiv ate t h e t h eo ry , w e m ig ht b eg in h ere , w ith t h is a ctiv ity :

1 . T hin k o f s o m e a ctio n s d on e i n o th er c u lt u re s t h at y o u , o r m an y o f u s, a re l ik ely t o j u dge a s m ora lly w ro n g.

W rite a nd/o r d is c u ss: m ake a l is t o f t h ese t o pic s.

2 . I m agin e s o m eo n e r e sp on din g t o o u r t h in kin g t h at t h ese a ctio n s a re w ro n g w it h a r e a ctio n l ik e t h is :

" H ey, t h at's t h eir c u ltu re ! T hat's t h eir p ra c tic e! T hat's t h eir t r a d itio n! A nd s o i t's O K ! T hey a re O K w it h d oin g t h at i n t h at

c u ltu re , a n d s o i t i s O K f o r t h em t o d o i t, s o y ou s h ould n't j u dge, o r t h in k t h at w hat t h ey a re d oin g i s w ro ng! I t's t h eir c u lt u re

a n d s o y ou s h ould re sp ect w hat t h ey d o!"

Q uestio n: d o p eo ple s o m etim es s a y t h in gs l ik e t h is ? W hen ? A bout w hat t o pic s ( o th er t h an t h ose t h at y o u l is te d a bove)? W hat

els e d o t h ey s a y a lo ng t h ese l in es?

3 . I f p eo p le s a y t h in gs l ik e t h is , t h ey m ig h t b e a ccep tin g a m ora l t h eo ry t h at's o fte n c a lle d " C ult u ra l R ela tiv is m " o r " M ora l

R ela tiv is m " o r " E th ic a l R ela tiv is m ." ( B ut t h ey m ig ht n ot! ).

M ora l t h eo rie s t r y t o e x pla in w hy actio ns a re w ro ng a n d n ot w ro ng, w hat m akes a ctio ns w ro ng o r n ot w ro ng ( u tilita ria n is m i s a m ora l

th eo ry ; K an t's c ate g oric al i m pera tiv es a re m ora l t h eo rie s, e tc ). S im plif ie d , " R ela ti v is m " i s t h is t h eo ry :

If t h e m ajo rity o f p eo ple i n s o m e s o cie ty a ppro ve o f d oin g s o m e a ctio n, t h en t h at a cti o n i s p erm is sib le i n t h at s o cie ty . I f t h ey

d is a ppro ve, i t's w ro ng.

W hat m akes a n a ctio n w ro n g , i n a s o cie ty , a cco rd in g t o t h is t h eo ry ?

If t h e m ajo rity o f p eo ple d is a ppro ve o f i t.

W hat m akes a n a ctio n p erm is sib le , s a y s t h is v ie w ?

If t h e m ajo rity o f p eo ple a ppro ve, o r d on't d is a ppro ve o f t h e a ctio n.

W hat m akes an a ctio n ob lig ato ry , o n t h is v ie w ?

If t h e m ajo rity o f p eo ple d is a ppro ve o f p eo ple n ot d oin g t h e a ctio n. ( p erh aps? )

W e c an s im plif y t h e v ie w e v en m ore :

A s o cie ty 's m ajo rity v ie w o r a ppro va l d ete rm in es w heth er a ctio ns a re w ro ng o r n ot.

F or a l e ss s im plif ie d s ta te m en t, J a m es a n d S tu art R ach els ' E le m en ts o f M ora l P hilo so phy sta te s r e la tiv is m a s c la im 2 h ere :

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This p ost o r h an dout h ere i s b ase d o n t h e u nders ta n din g o f C ultu ra l R ela tiv is m t h at R ach els p re se n t, a n d m an y o f t h eir a rg um en ts .

4 . T o r e ca p , h ere 's w hy w hat s o m e p eo p le s o m etim es s a y s u ggests t h ey m ig h t a ccep t C ult u ra l R ela tiv is m , a s l e a st i n t h e m om en t:

If p eo ple s a y " H ey, t h at's t h eir c u ltu re ! T hat's t h eir p ra ctic e! T hat's t h eir t r a d itio n! A nd s o i t's O K!" a n d " T hey a re O K w it h

d oin g t h at i n t h at c u ltu re , a n d s o i t i s O K f o r t h em t o d o i t, s o y ou s h ould n't j u dge, o r t h in k t h at w hat t h ey a re d oin g i s

w ro ng!" t h en t h ey m ig ht b e a p pealin g t o C ultu ra l R ela tiv is m . T hey a re s a yin g t h at t h e m ajo rity o f p eo ple i n t h at s o cie ty

a ppro ve o f s o m e a ctio n a nd s o i t's O K f o r t h em t o d o t h at a ctio n, a nd s o - s in ce i t 's O K f o r t h em t o d o i t - w e s h ould n't t h in k

th at t h at t h ey a re d oin g i s n ot O K.

G iv en t h is , i t's w orth w hile t o t h in k m ore a b out t h e t h eo ry a n d w heth er w e s h ould t h in k i t's t r u e o r f a ls e a n d w hat, i f a n yth in g, i s g ood o r

b ad a b out t h e t h eo ry a n d a n y r e la te d t h oughts .

5 . W hy m ig h t s o m eo n e t h in k t h at C ult u ra l R ela tiv is m i s a fa ls e m ora l t h eo ry ?

H ere a re s o m e a rg um en ts a g ain st C ultu ra l r e la tiv is m , s o m e a rg um en ts t o t h in k t h at t h e v ie w i s f a ls e .

a . T he m ajo rity i s n 't a lw ays c o rre ct:

I f c u ltu ra l r e la tiv is m i s t r u e, t h en t h e m ajo rity 's m ora l v ie w i n a s o cie ty m ust a lw ay s b e c o rre ct.

B ut t h e m ajo rity 's m ora l v ie w n eed n ot b e c o rre ct.

S o c u ltu ra l r e la tiv is m i s f a ls e .

S o, e .g ., i f t h e m ajo rity i n s o m e c u ltu re a p pro ves o f a n a ctio n, t h en - a cco rd in g t o c u lt u ra l r e la tiv is m - i t m ust b e p erm is sib le

in t h at c u ltu re ( e .g ., f e m ale g en ita l c u ttin g i s p erm is s ib le i f t h e m ajo rity a re O K w it h i t) , y et t h e a ctio n i s r e all y w ro ng; a n d -

a cco rd in g t o c u ltu ra l r e la tiv is m - o b lig ato ry (e .g ., t h at w om en m ust s u bm it

to m en i n e v ery w ay ; t h at e v ery one m ust a g re e t o s o m e l e ad er's p la n s, e tc .) , y et t h ere a re n o s u ch o blig ati o ns.

b . O pin io n p olls d on 't t e ll u s w hat's e th ic a l:

I f c u ltu ra l r e la tiv is m i s t r u e, t h en w e c an f in d o ut w heth er a n a ctio n i s w ro ng o r n ot s im ply b y d oin g a n o pin io n

p oll t o f in d o ut w hat t h e m ajo rity t h in ks.

B ut y ou d on't f in d o ut t h at a n a ctio n i s w ro ng o r n ot m ere ly b y a n o pin io n p oll: t h at o nly t e lls u s w hat p eo ple

t h in k is w ro ng, n ot w hat r e a lly i s w ro ng.

S o c u ltu ra l r e la tiv is m i s f a ls e .

c. C ultu ra l c ritic s c a n b e r ig h t:

I f c u ltu ra l r e la tiv is m i s t r u e, t h en a n yone w ho a rg ues t h at a ny o f t h e c o m mon, m ajo rity -a ccep te d m ora l v ie w s o f

th eir s o cie ty a re w ro ng i s a lw ays m is ta k en .

B ut s o m etim es , p eo ple w ho a rg ue t h at c o m mon, m ajo rity -a ccep te d m ora l v ie w s o f t h eir s o cie ty a re w ro ng a re

c o rre ct.

S o c u ltu ra l r e la tiv is m i s f a ls e .

d . T here 's b een s o m e r e a l, o bje ctiv e p ro gre ss ( a n d d eclin e!):

If c u ltu ra l r e la tiv is m i s t r u e, t h en t h ere h as b een n o m ora l p ro gre ss i n h is to ry , i n t h e s e n se o f w ors e v ie w s b ein g

re p la ced w ith b ette r v ie w s ( e .g ., t h e v ie w t h at s la very i s n ot w ro ng bein g r e p la ced b y t h e v ie w t h at s la very i s

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But t h ere h as b een s o m e m ora l p ro gre ss, w ors e v ie w s r e p la ced w ith b ette r v ie w s.

S o c u ltu ra l r e la tiv is m i s f a ls e .

T his a rg um en t c an a ls o b e d ev elo ped w ith s o m e p ote n tia l e x am ple s o f c u ltu ra l d eclin e , i f th ere a re s o m e w ay s i n w hic h

so cie ty h as o vera ll c o m e t o a ccep t o bje ctiv ely w ors e m ora l v ie w s: i f c u ltu ra l r e la tiv is m i s t r u e, a ny c h ange t o a m ajo rity

m ora l v ie w a lw ays r e su lts i n a c h ange t o a c o rre ct v ie w , w hic h i s n 't t r u e.

T hese a re j u st a f e w a rg um en ts i n s u pport o f t h in kin g t h at t h e m ora l t h eo ry c alle d " c u lt u ra l r e la tiv is m " i s f a ls e . T hey c an a n d s h ould b e

ex pla in ed i n g re ate r d eta il t o b ette r e v alu ate t h em .

6. W hy m ig h t s o m eo n e a ccep t t h e m ora l t h eo ry C ult u ra l R ela tiv is m ?

a. T ole ra n ce M otiv a tio n s:

P eo ple m ig ht a ccep t t h e m ora l t h eo ry C ultu ra l R ela tiv is m o ut o f a d esir e t o b e " to le ra n t" a n d " re sp ectf u l" o f c u lt u ra l d if f e re n ces. T his

m otiv atio n r u ns i n to a b it o f p ara d ox, h ow ev er. C onsid er t h is c la im :

We s h ould a lw ays b e t o le ra nt a nd r e sp ectfu l o f e very th in g t h at a ll o th er c u ltu re s d o.

T his i s a m ora l c la im . A cco rd in g t o C ult u ra l R ela tiv is m , w e s h ould a ccep t i t o nly i f th e m ajo rity o f p eo ple i n o ur s o cie ty a ccep t i t. B ut, a t

le ast i n o ur s o cie ty , t h is c la im i s r e je cte d . I n deed , i t's p ro bab ly r e je cte d i n n early a ll c u lt u re s! S o, i f a ccep ti n g t h is c la im i n sp ir e s o ne t o

a ccep t C ultu ra l R ela tiv is m , a ccep tin g C ultu ra l R ela tiv is m s h ould l e ad o ne t o r e je ct i t!

A b ette r t h ought a b out t o le ra n ce a n d r e sp ect i s t h is :

If a s o cie ty d oes s o m eth in g t h at i s m ere ly d iffe re n t , b ut n ot w ro ng , t h en w e s h ould t o le ra te a n d r e sp ect w hat t h ey d o.

S om etim es w e f in d d if f e re n t w ay s o f d oin g t h in gs a b it " sc ary ," a n d w e m is ta k en ly i n te rp re t t h at a s " w ro ng." W e n eed t o g et o ver t h at ! J u st

b eca use a noth er c u ltu re h as a d iffe re n t p ra ctic e f r o m u s d oes n ot m ea n t h at w hat t h ey a re d oin g i s w ro ng. I f i t i s w ro ng, w e c an t r y t o

s h ow t h at b y a p pealin g t o K an tia n is m , o r u tilita ria n is m , o r s o m e o th er t h eo ry t h at p ro pose s t h at w hat m akes a ctio ns w ro ng o r n ot i s

n ot

A noth er g ood t h ought a b out t o le ra n ce a n d r e sp ect i s t h is :

If a s o cie ty d oes s o m eth in g t h at i s d iffe re n t , b ut w ro ng , t h en w e s h ould not to le ra te a n d r e sp ect w hat t h ey d o.

N ow , t h is d oesn 't a lw ay s m ean w e s h ould g o a ctu ally g o t r y t o d o s o m eth in g in t h at s o cie ty t o a d dre ss t h e i s su e ( b ut p erh ap s so m eo ne

sh ould , a n d s o m eo ne e ls e i s i n a b ette r p ositio n t o d o s o t h an u s). B ut w e c an a t l e ast t h in k th at t h e a ctio n i s w ro ng a n d e x pre ss o ur

dis a p pro val o f t h e a ctio n a n d w hy w e t h in k i t s h ould n't b e d one.

b . " W e j u st d is a gre e" :

A noth er a rg um en t i n f a v or o f a ccep tin g t h e m ora l t h eo ry c alle d C ultu ra l R ela tiv is m i s b ase d o n t h e o bse rv atio n t h at m any c u ltu re s

so m etim es d is a gre e a bout w hat's w ro ng a nd w hat's n ot w ro ng . D oes e v ery one d is a g re e a b out e v ery th in g? N o. D o w e s o m etim es a g re e

a b out s o m e t h in gs? Y es. T ry in g t o d ete rm in e e x actly h ow m uch w e d is a g re e, s in ce w e a ls o o fte n a g re e o n m an y t h in gs, i s c h all e n gin g. B ut

th is o bse rv a tio n ofte n g iv en a s a c o re p re m is e i n f a v or o f t h e t h e m ora l t h eo ry C ultu ra l R ela tiv is m :

Cultu re s ( s o m etim es) d is a g re e a b out w hat's m ora l a n d i m mora l.

I n deed s o m etim es th is c la im i s ( m is ta k en ly ) c alle d " C ultu ra l R ela tiv is m ," w hic h i s w hy I k eep s a y in g th e m ora l t h eo ry c a lle d " C ultu ra l

R ela tiv is m . " T he c la im h ere i s j u st a n o bse rv atio n, a n d a s e em in gly t r u e o ne. C ultu ra l R ela tiv is m i s a m ora l t h eo ry , a n d a c o ntr o vers ia l

o ne!

H ow c o uld t h is t r u e o bse rv atio n s u pport C ultu ra l R ela tiv is m ? H ere I t h in k w e s h ould f o cu s o n a n a sp ect o f C ult u ra l R ela tiv is m t h at's a

l o gic al c o nse q uen ce o f i t, a n d t h in k a b out t h at c o nse q uen ce a s C ultu ra l R ela tiv is m f o r a m om en t. T his c o nse q uen ce i s t h at t h ere a re n o

univ ersa l m ora l f a cts o r t r u th s : t h ere 's n oth in g t h at's j u st p la in w ro ng, w here v er y ou a re i n s p ace o r t im e, a cco rd in g t o C ult u ra l

R ela tiv is m , s in ce t h e m ora l f a cts d ep en d o n w hat c u ltu re y ou a re p art o f: e .g ., i f y ou a re i n a c u lt u re t h at g en era ll y l o oks t h e o th er w ay

w hen s o m eo ne i s v ic tim iz ed , i t's O K t o v ic tim iz e s o m eo ne i n t h at c u ltu re .

S o w e h av e a n a rg um en t l ik e t h is :

C ultu re s ( s o m etim es) d is a g re e a b out w hat's m ora l a n d i m mora l.

T here fo re , t h ere a re n o u niv ers a l m ora l f a cts o r t r u th s: C ultu ra l R ela tiv is m i s t r u e.

T he p ro ble m i s t h e c o nnectio n b etw een t h e f ir s t p re m is e a n d t h e c o nclu sio n. I t i s r e ach ed ( th at i s , t h e a rg um en t i s m ad e l o gic ally v alid ) , b y

a p re m is e l ik e t h is :

If c u ltu re s d is a gre e a bout a t o pic , t h en t h ere a re n o u niv ersa l f a cts o r t r u th s a bout t h at t o pic .

T his a ssu m ptio n i s f a ls e : j u st b ecau se p eo ple d is a g re e d oesn 't m ean t h ere i s n o f a ct o f t h e m att e r. I t m ig ht b e t h at o ne p arty t o t h e

d is a g re em en t i s j u st m is ta k en . F or e x am ple , t h ere w as ( a n d i s !) d is a g re em en t a b out t h e s h ap e o f t h e e arth . B ut t h e E arth i s n ot r o und f o r

so m e c u ltu re s a n d fla t f o r o th er c u ltu re s . S om e b elie v e i t's f la t, b ut b elie v in g s o m eth in g t o b e t r u e d oesn 't m ean i t i s t r u e. ( If y ou m ere ly

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belie ve y ou a re a b illio nair e , t h at d oes n ot m ean t h at y ou a re , i n f a ct, a b illio nair e ). M an y m ore e x am ple s m ak e t h e p oin t t h at

d is a g re em en ts d on't p ro ve a l a ck o f u niv ers a l f a cts o r t r u th s. S o t h is a rg um en t f a ils : i t g iv es n o g ood r e aso n t o a ccep t t h e m ora l t h eo ry

c alle d C ultu ra l R ela tiv is m .

7. C on clu sio n s:

W e h av e u nders to od t h is t h eo ry a n d r e v ie w ed s o m e a rg um en ts a g ain st i t, t h at i s , r e aso ns t o t h in k t h e t h eo ry i s f a ls e , a s w ell a s a rg um en ts

in i ts f a v or, t h at i s , r e aso ns t o a ccep t t h e t h eo ry . O n t h e b asis o f a ll t h at, w hat d o y ou t h in k o f t h e t h eo ry ? W hat d o y ou t h in k y ou s h ould

s a y o r t h in k i f p eo ple s a y t h in gs l ik e t h is ?

" H ey, t h at's t h eir c u ltu re ! T hat's t h eir p ra c tic e! T hat's t h eir t r a d itio n! A nd s o i t's O K ! T hey a re O K w it h d oin g t h at i n t h at

c u ltu re , a n d s o i t i s O K f o r t h em t o d o i t, s o y ou s h ould n't j u dge, o r t h in k t h at w hat t h ey a re d oin g i s w ro ng!"

O ne p ossib le b asic r e sp onse : " L ook, j u st b eca use s o m e c u ltu re a ppro ves o f s o m e a cti o n d oesn 't m ake i t n ot w ro ng. A c u lt u re c o uld b e

m is ta ken , j u st a s i n div id ual c o uld b e m is ta ken . S o i t's i n te re stin g ( a nd m ayb e t r o ubli n g!) t h at t h is c u lt u re a ppro ves o f d oin g t h is _ __, b ut

th at d oesn 't m ea n i t's r ig ht t o d o t h at."

S o i f y o u r e je ct c u ltu ra l r e la tiv is m a n d t h in k i t's a f a ls e t h eo ry , w hat s h ou ld y o u t h in k? Y ou s h ould t h in k t h at w hat a c u ltu re t h in ks o f a n

actio n does n ot m ak e t h e a ctio n w ro ng o r n ot w ro ng. W hat d oes m ak e a ctio ns w ro ng o r n ot w ro ng t h en ? T hin gs t h at d on't d ep en d o n a n y

cu ltu re 's b elie fs o r a ttitu des, s u ch a s w heth er t h e a ctio n h arm s o r b en efits t h ose w ho a re a ff e cte d b y t h e a ctio n ( a s c o nse q uen tia lis ts a rg ue),

o r w heth er t h e a ctio n i n volv es u sin g a n yone a s a " m ere m ean s" ( a s K an tia n s a rg ue), o r w heth er t h e a ctio ns d one f o llo w r u le s t h at

e v ery one c o uld a g re e o n ( a s K an tia n s a n d R aw ls ia n s a rg ue).

T he f o llo w in g i s s o m e f u rth er d is c u ssio n o f m atte rs r e la te d t o c u ltu ra l r e la tiv is m :

8. C ult u ra l O bse rv atio n s:

P eo ple s o m etim es a ccu se e ach o th er o f b ein g C ultu ra l R ela tiv is ts . T his i s u su ally t a k en t o b e a n i n su lt, a n d t h e i n su lts o fte n f ly a lo ng p arty

lin es.

1 . " C on se rv a tiv es" v ersu s " L ib era ls "

" C onse rv ativ es" s o m etim es a ccu se " lib era ls " o f b ein g c u ltu ra l r e la tiv is ts , s in ce a b out so m e actio ns, " lib era ls " t h in k t h at p eo ple s h ou ld b e

ab le t o d o w hat t h ey w an t ( e .g ., e n gag e i n v ario us s e x ual o r r o m an tic p ra ctic es; u se v ario us i lle g al d ru gs; h av e a n a b orti o n, e tc .) . I t m ig ht

b e t h at l ib era ls a re c la im in g if s o m eo ne, o r g ro up o f p eo ple , w ant t o d o s o m eth in g - t h ey a re O K w ith i t b ein g d one - i t's O K f o r t h em t o d o

it, a n d t h at k in da s o unds l ik e r e la tiv is m . ( O r t h ey m ig ht j u st b e s a y in g t h at s o m e p ote n ti a lly i m mora l a ctio ns s h ould n't b e c rim in ali z ed ).

M ore l ik ely , h ow ev er, " lib era ls " a re a rg uin g t h is :

" T hese v ario us a ctio ns ( s u ch a s...) a re a ctu ally n ot w ro ng, a lth ough t h ere i s a l o ng t r a d itio n o f t h em b ein g m is ta ken ly b elie ved

to b e w ro ng. B ut t h ey a re n ot w ro ng, a n d s o if p eo ple w an t t o d o t h em , t h at's O K, s in ce t h ey a re n 't d oin g w ro ng: p eo ple

s h ould b e a b le t o d o a ctio ns t h at a re n 't w ro ng, i f t h ey w an t! "

U nders to od t h is w ay, " lib era ls " c le arly d o n ot a ccep t c u ltu ra l r e la tiv is m . T hey d o n ot t h in k t h at t h e m ajo rity i s a lw ay s r ig ht.

2 .

"C onse rv ativ es" s o m etim es a p peal t o t h e B ib le f o r m ora l g uid an ce. T he B ib le , h ow ev er, s e em s t o c o nta in so m e b ad m ora l g uid an ce

co ncern in g, a m ong o th er t h in gs, s a y, i n ap p ro pria te a n d e x cessiv e v io le n ce, t o p ut i t m il d ly . W hen " lib era ls " o bse rv e t h is a d vic e, a n d s o

a rg ue t h at t h e B ib le i s n 't a n i n fa llib le s o urc e o f m ora l g uid an ce, " c o nse rv ativ es" s o m eti m es r e sp ond, " W ell, t h at w as t h e c u lt u re a t t h e

tim e; t h ey w ere j u st f o llo w in g t h eir o w n s ta n dard s, a n d s o w hat t h ey d id b ack t h en w asn 't w ro ng, a n d s o B ib li c al g uid an ce i s s till a lw ay s

p erfe ct."

T his so unds lik e a n a p peal t o m ora l r e la tiv is m . G re ta C hris tin a h as d ev elo ped t h is a rg um en t, a n d y ou s h ould r e ad w hat s h e h as t o s a y .

9 . W hat's a C ult u re A nyw ay?

N ote : T his d is c u ssio n h as a ssu m ed t h at w e u nders ta n d w hat c u ltu re s a re . I t w ould b e w orth w hil e t o t h in k a b out w hat c u lt u re s a re t h ough,

an d w hic h c u ltu re s e ach o f u s a re m em bers o f. W e p ro bab ly a re a ll m em bers o f m an y d if f e re n t c u lt u re s, a ll a t t h e s a m e t im e. T hese

d if f e re n t c u ltu re s a ls o p ro bab ly a ls o g en era lly a p pro ve o f d if f e re n t t h in gs: e .g ., " c o ll e g e c u lt u re " m ig ht a p pro ve o f d oin g X , w here as a

r e lig io us c u ltu re m ig ht d is a p pro ve o f d oin g X , a n d s o o n. I n t h ese c ase s, w hat i s s o m eo ne w ho i s a m em ber o f b oth c u lt u re s ( e .g ., a

r e lig io us c o lle g e s tu den t) t o d o? T hin kin g t h ro ugh h ow w e m ig ht a n sw er t h is q uesti o n m ig ht r e v eal e v en d eep er p ro ble m s f o r C ult u ra l

R ela tiv is m .

10. D if fe re n t " C ult u ra l R ela tiv is m s"

A noth er n ote : V ery d if f e re n t v ie w s a re s o m etim es c alle d " c u ltu ra l r e la tiv is m " s o w e n eed t o b e a tte n ti v e t o w hat p eo ple m ean w hen t h ey

c all s o m eth in g " re la tiv is m ."

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Email address...assig nm en ts ( 4 ) public p hilo (4 ) co m men ts ( 3 ) co m mun health ( 3 ) in te rv ie w s (2 ) ju re la tiv is m (2 ) IA CU C (1 ) ex perim en ta tio n (1 ) an im al re s (1 ) dis c u ssio n (1 ) dra ft (1 ) dru g eth ic al th eo rie s (1 ) eth ic s o f b e meta p hysic s (1 ) pers o nal id en poverty ( 1 ) public atio ns (1 ) re lig 7/13/2021 Nathan Nobis, Ph.D. - Philosophy Professor and More: "Cultural Relativism" or "Moral Relativism" or "Ethical Relativism" or "Relativism"

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New er P ost O ld er P ost H om e

Subsc rib e t o : P ost C om men ts ( A to m )

Lab els : e th ic s ,re la tiv is m ,te ach in g

S om etim es b y " c u ltu ra l r e la tiv is m " p eo p le j u st m ean t h at d iffe re n t s o cie tie s h ave s o m e d iffe re n t m ora l v ie w s . T his v ie w , o f c o urs e , i s t r u e,

b ut i t's n ot t h e s a m e a s t h e m ora l t h eo ry calle d " c u ltu ra l r e la tiv is m " d is c u sse d a b ove. A bove, t h is v ie w i s s e en a s a pre m is e i n a n a rg um en t

fo r c u ltu ra l r e la tiv is m , t h e m ora l t h eo ry , w hic h w as a rg ued t o b e a n u nso und a rg um en t.

A ls o , s o cia l s c ie n tis ts ( e .g ., s o cio lo gis ts , a n th ro polo gis ts , p sy ch olo gis ts , e tc .) s o m eti m es c all " c u lt u ra l r e la tiv is m " t h e v ie w t h at f o r t h e

purp ose s o f l e a rn in g a bout a c u ltu re , w e s h ould " su sp en d" a ny m ora l j u dgm en ts a bout t h e c u lt u re i n t h e c o urse o f o ur i n vesti g atio n . T his

is l ik ely a u se fu l m eth od: i f , s a y, s o m eo ne w an te d t o t r y t o u nders ta n d w hat c a use s so m e p eo ple t o b e a ttr a cte d t o , s a y, W hite N atio nalis m

o r t h e K KK, i t m ig ht b e m ost e ff e ctiv e, f o r t h e m om en t, t o s e t a sid e t h e m ora l j u dgm en t t h at t h ese g ro ups a re e v il . T his i s j u st a str a te g y

fo r s o cia l s c ie n ce i n vestig atio n, h ow ev er, a n d t h e t e ch niq ue c an b e s e t a sid e a fte r t h e r e se arc h i s d one a n d o ur m ora l j u dgm en ts a re

b ro ught b ack i n to o ur t h in kin g, e .g ., " T he K K K i s a w ic k ed o rg an iz atio n, b ut n ew r e se arc h g iv es u s a b ett e r i d ea w hy s o m e p eo ple a re

a ttr a cte d t o i t, s o n ow w e a re i n a b ette r p ositio n t o i n te rv en e a n d l e sse n t h e c h an ce t h at p eo ple w il l w an t t o j o in h ate g ro ups a n d b e p art o f

th at e v il." T he p oin t i s t h at t h is s o cia l s c ie n ce s tr a te g y i s f u lly c o m patib le w ith r e je ctin g c u lt u ra l r e la tiv is m a s a m ora l t h eo ry a n d t h in kin g

th at s o m e, m an y, a ctio ns a re p ro fo undly w ro ng i n a n y a n d a ll c u ltu re s t h ey o ccu r.

T o b e c o n tin ued !

A s h ort v id eo o n s o m e o f t h e a bove c o n te n t:

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