Cultural Relativism EMP Ch. 2

1. Cultural Relativism � EMP Ch. 2 1/22/07

3. Some Terminology Universal A claim or truth is universal if it holds for all people at all times Objective Claims are objectively true (or false) if they would remain true (or false) whatever anyone or everyone thought or desired.

4. The Cultural Differences Arg. (1) Different societies have different moral codes. Therefore, (2) there is no objective �truth� in morality. Right and wrong are only matters of opinion, and opinions vary from culture to culture. Analysis: The argument is invalid (and hence unsound). �There is no reason to think that if there is moral truth everyone must know it� (EMP p. 21). Epistemology is different than Metaphysics Image from http://www.resistir.info/energia/imagens/flat_earth.jpg Found on www.hyper.net/ufo/skeptics.html

5. Consequences of Relativism (1) We could no longer say that the customs of other societies are inferior to our own. (2) We could decide whether our actions are right or wrong just by consulting the standards of our society. (3) The idea of moral progress is called into doubt. If any of (1) � (3) are false, then the theory is false.

6. Less Disagreement Than It Seems Example: Some cultures believe it is wrong to eat cows. A majority of our culture believes it is not wrong to eat cows. What kind of disagreement is this? An ethical disagreement? No. It is a factual disagreement. Some cultures believe in the transmigration of souls. A cow could literally be one�s alive relative. Example two: the Eskimos

7. Common Threads All societies� �must protect their infants. �must value truth telling. �must generally prohibit murder. The point is that �there are some rules that all societies must have in common, because those rules are necessary for society to exist� (EMP, 26, emphasis in original). Disagreement happens against a broad background of agreement.

8. Undesirable Practices Excision What are some of the reasons given in defense of excision? If they are giving reasons for it, then we may subject those reason to rational scrutiny. The reasons given attempt to justify excision by showing that it is beneficial. So we may ask whether it is or not. A Standard (question): does the practice promote or hinder the welfare of the people whose lives are affected by it?

9. Reluctance to Criticize (1) We might be nervous about interfering in the social customs of other people. (2) We might stress the role of tolerance. (3) We might not want to express contempt for a society. And (4) who are we to judge?

10. Lessons to be Learned We ought not overlook the fact that many of our preferences are not based on some �absolute rational standard� (EMP 30). We ought to keep an open mind. Our feelings are not always reliable guides to the truth. Dogmatism

11. Sum Up How did Cultural Relativism fare? Next: cultural relativism holds that there are right answers to ethical problems. It�s just that these are relative to a culture and there is no universal, objective standard of rightness or wrongness. This position has its problems. But what if rightness or wrongness could vary from person to person? This is the subject of our next chapter.