Cultural Relativism

Definition, Advantages of recognizing the

differences and the dangers of position
Objectives:
● Recognize differences in moral behavior of different
cultures
● Appreciate the differences
● Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of cultural
relativism
Question:
What are some practices/beliefs in
the Philippines that are different
from other countries?
Introduction
The cross-cultural relationship is the idea that people from
different cultures can have relationships that acknowledge,
respect and begin to understand each other's diverse lives.

People with different backgrounds can help each other see

possibilities that they never thought were there because of
limitations, or cultural prescriptions, posed by their own
traditions.
This cross-cultural relationship provides hope that new
opportunities will be discovered but at the same time itis
threatening. The threat is that once the relationship
occurs, one can no longer claim that any single culture is
the absolute truth.
The concept of cultural relativism as we know and use it
today was established as an analytic tool by German-American
anthropologist Franz Boas in the early 20th century
We recognize that the many cultures of the world have their
own beliefs,values, and practices that have developed in
particular historical, political, social, material, and
ecological contexts and that it makes sense that they would
differ from our own and that none are necessarily right or
wrong or good or bad, then we are engaging the concept of
cultural relativism.
Definition of
Cultural
Relativism
Cultural Relativism
Cultural relativism is the ability to understand a culture
on its own terms and not to make judgments using the
standards of one's own culture
The goal of this is promote understanding of cultural
practices that are not typically part of one's own culture.

Using the perspective of cultural relativism leads to the

view that no one culture is superior than another culture
when compared to systems of morality, law, politics, etc.

It is a concept that cultural norms and values derive their

meaning within a specific social context
The concept of cultural relativism also means that any
opinion on ethics is subject to the perspective of each
person within their particular culture

It tries to promote the understanding of cultural practices

that are unfamiliar to other cultures such as eating
insects, genocides or genital cutting (Leano, 1995)
Cultural relativism and ethnocentrism
Cultural relativism is considered to be more constructive
and positive conception as compared to ethnocentrism.
The usual definition of the term, Ethnocentrism, is
"thinking one's own group's ways are superior to others" or
"judging other groups as inferior to one's own"
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.
Cultural relativism is a method or procedure for explaining
and interpreting other people's culture. It offers
anthropologists a means of investigating other societies
without imposing ethnocentric assumptions (Scupin, 2000)
Cultural relativism is widely accepted in modern anthropology.
Cultural relativists believe that all cultures are worthy in
their own right and are of equal value.
Diversity of cultures, even those with conflicting moral beliefs,
is not to be considered in terms of right and wrong or good and
bad.
Today's anthropologists consider all cultures to be equally
legitimate expressions of human existence, to be studied from a
purely neutral perspective
Cultural relativism sees nothing inherently wrong (and
nothing inherently good) with any cultural expression. So,
the ancient Mayan practices of self-mutilation and human
sacrifice are neither good nor bad; they are simply cultural
distinctive, akin to the American custom of shooting
fireworks on the fourth of July.

Human sacrifice and fireworks- both are simply different

products of separate socialization.
At some festivals, the Maya would cut
themselves so they would bleed. This
was one way they offered blood to the
gods to keep their gods happy.
Early U.S. settlers brought their
love of fireworks with them to the
New World and fireworks were part
of the very first Independence Day
– a tradition that continues every
4th of July
Marriage practices of Muslims should not be judged based on
the culture of the Roman Catholics is one example.

The celebration of fiesta in the Philippines should not look

into by other nation as too much religiosity.
Advantages and
Disadvantages of
Cultural
Relativism
There are additional cultural relativism advantages and
disadvantages to consider when looking at this theory. Here
are some of the key points to consider (Vittana.org)
Advantages of Cultural relativism
1. It is a system which promotes cooperation
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 society
2. It creates a society where equality is possible
In any society, people rise by climbing on top of other
people.

It is a socially acceptable way of creating discrimination

We see this today in the wage gap that women face, the
educational opportunities that minority groups face, and the
violence we see because of political oppression
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 cultural relativism, you get to pursue your own interests
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 preserves 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

Native and First Nations tribes in North America did this by

signing treaties which would help them to preserve some
lands, but limit their rights by being subject to a new
governmental authority
They were forced to trade some of their culture.

Under the theory of cultural relativism, such a trade would

not be necessary.

It wouldn't even be a consideration.

Whang-Od- ”last
mambabatok”/tattoo
artist of the Butbut
people of the larger
Kalinga ethnic group
Losing Indian lands resulted in a loss of cultural identity, as tribes
relied on their homelands as the place of ancestral burial locations
and sacred sites where religious ceremonies were performed.
Without their lands, nations lost their identities, and their purpose.
Native languages slowly gave way to English. Mandatory American
boarding schools forbade native languages to be spoken.
Children, alienated from their families, began to lose their languages
and their cultures during their stay at these institutions
Unable to perform ceremonies and traditions in native tongues, a slow
loss of tradition and identity became inevitable.
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.

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.
By consulting with the moral code of the culture, one
question must be asked: does the action conform to the
cultural moral code? If it does, then the action is
permitted.
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 stops this

Disadvantages of Cultural Relativism
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.

They 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

If you are upset with your neighbour, then you can kill
that person without consequence if your moral code allows
for murder.

There is no real way to protect people in such a society,

so each person becomes responsible to protect themselves

It creates a system that is Darwinian in practicality,

where only the strongest can survive.
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. We can be
forgetful. We can lie. We can become aggressive when a
driver cuts you off while driving and puts your family at
risk.

Without a group moral code in place to govern decisions,

anything could happen when we experience these moments of
imperfection.
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

Cultural relativism would allow slavery to return to the US

South.

It would allow men to exclude women from voting once again

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 expense emphasis of a

society is individualistic gain that can come at the 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

C.S. Lewis, in his description of Hell

from The Screwtape Letters, envisions a
place where people are constantly going
away from each other to avoid the demons
that each person has
Because each person is uncertain of what codes and standards
another is following, the natural inclination for
self-preservation causes people to draw away.

You might develop a close-knit community at first, but as

Lewis describes, each demon causes people to back away from
one another instead of coming closer
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.
The debate on transgender laws in North Carolina and Texas is a
good example of this.
In cultural relativism, everyone would be able to use his/her
bathroom of choice or a culture could state that everyone must
use a specific bathroom without exception and there would be
complete agreement in either choice.
Within the society, either choice would be seen as moral
progress, but in reality, it could hold people back.
Question:

How do you define

success?
7. It could limit humanity’s progress
We often think of the concept of cultural
relativism as progression, but it isn't
necessarily 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
We might consider the ability for women to vote as the
"right" thing to do today, but in past societies, not
allowing women to vote was also "right" from a cultural
standpoint.

Because both are "right," there's no way to judge progress.

8. Cultural relativism can turn perceptions into truth
It's a dark night and it is warm outside. A teen is walking
down an alley wearing a hoodie and the hood is up. His hands
are jammed into his pockets and there is a bulge in one of
them
What do you think this guy is up to?
"A lot of us have become what we have been portrayed to be and
I have had enough”
The men in his campaign say the hoodie is the most demonised
outfit, but Cephas talks of having to change his behaviour
to make people feel more comfortable even if he's in a suit.

Cephas says he is tired of asking for change and hopes the

campaign will shine the light on successful black men.
In this scenario, some people may automatically assume that
the teen is up to "no good."

The bulge might even be a weapon under that assumption

In the world of cultural relativism, that bias becomes a
truth that can be acted upon.

It doesn't matter if the bulge is a gun or a package of

Skittles.

The decision to act becomes a righteous one because of the

individual truth that the culture allowed through the bias
it perpetuates
The cultural relativism's advantages and disadvantages which
are discussed are based on the theoretical implementation of
such a system.

Originally proposed by Franz Boas in 1887, it is an idea

that has never been implemented on a large scale.
Activity
Based on your experience, how does
your family differ from other families
in your place. List down these
differences and compare it with your
own.
 End
https://www.nps.gov/articles/negotiating-identity.htm