TOPIC: CULTURAL RELATIVISM

Notes:

“Every moral standard is shaped by the specific culture it belongs” - William Graham Summer

Culture
● Culture is both universal and personal, which means it can be defined in various ways. According to
Merriam-Webster, culture is commonly described as the set of customary beliefs, social norms, and
material attributes that distinguish a racial, religious, or social community.
● In simpler terms, it refers to the set of beliefs, values, practices, traditions, and artifacts shared by a
particular community.

Elements of Culture
● Nonmaterial Culture
● Material Culture

Five Major Elements of Culture:

1. Language
Language serves as the primary means for a cultural group to communicate. Verbal communication
refers to the use of spoken and written words, which is the most common form of communication.
Non-verbal communication includes gestures, body language, and even symbols. Each cultural group
typically has its unique language.

2. Values and Beliefs

Perhaps the most crucial elements of culture are values and beliefs, which can be religious, ethical,
philosophical, or moral in nature. Values are a set of standards used to judge what is good or bad, as
well as what is desirable or undesirable. Beliefs encompass the things that people hold to be true and
can be shared as a group or personal.

3. Norms and Customs

Customs refers to the traditional practices and rituals that are unique to a culture and are passed on to
the next generation. Norms are the accepted rules of behavior that determine how to resolve conflicts
and dictate appropriate behavior within a cultural group. Norms can be either formal or informal.
Formal norms encompass the laws and regulations used to govern a society, while informal norms are
social conventions that are still considered important.

4. Symbols and Rituals

Symbols and rituals serve as means for individuals belonging to a group to express their shared beliefs,
values, and customs, thereby aiding in creating a sense of community and belonging. Rituals refer to
established procedures and ceremonies performed for a specific purpose, with common examples
including weddings and baptisms.

5. Artifacts
Artifacts are objects that serve as bridges connecting the past and the present. They function as
records of how our ancestors lived during their times. Artifacts can be thought of as doors that lead to
the past, as they help us understand how our culture evolved into what it is today.
Cultural Variation Across Societies
Geography: Geography plays a significant role in shaping one’s culture. Our world consists of diverse types of
environments, and people living in a particular environment adapt to the natural resources abundant in that
area.

History: Historical events can indeed have a profound impact on cultural practices. Events like colonization
and wars can influence the various practices of a cultural group.

Religious and Spiritual Diversity: Religions have played a significant role in both the past and the present
world. Different cultural groups often adhere to different religions, each of which comes with its own set of
beliefs, values, rituals, and ceremonies.

Advantages of Recognizing Cultural Differences

Fostering Empathy and Tolerance: Exposure to different cultures allows us to understand the experiences,
challenges, and values of people having diverse backgrounds, and this enables us to see where they are
coming from under the lens of their own, without having to judge. This leads to greater tolerance and a more
inclusive society.

Reducing Stereotypes and Prejudices: Cultural relativism is against imposing one’s own cultural norms and
values onto others. Instead, people are advised to step into the shoes of individuals from different cultural
backgrounds so you could understand where they’re coming from. Also, understanding the historical, social,
and environmental factors that shape a culture’s beliefs and practices will make people see the rational and
logical explanations within their own cultural context.

Enhancing Global Communication: Approaching interactions with the assumption that there are cultural
differences which are not inherently wrong will allow people of different roots to engage in respectful and
effective communication, without misunderstandings and biases.

Preserving Cultural Diversity: It allows people to practice their beliefs and enjoy their cultural or religious
heritages and practices without having to fear others’ opinions of them for doing what they do.

Ex. Nas Daily takes down Whang-od Tutorial; grandniece says no contract signed

Moral and Ethical Challenges

Ethical Dilemma in Cultural Practice: When a certain cultural practice conflicts with something that is
universally known as unethical such as Early Child Marriage, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Honor Killing,
etc., which creates a dilemma in determining whether such an act is acceptable.

Ex. Anti-child marriage bill, naibatas na

Human Rights Violations: Even though cultural relativism has its fair share of good qualities, it also has its
fair share of bad qualities. For instance, practices that are considered normal in some cultures that violate
human rights and go against fundamental principles.

Ex. India’s attitude to arranged marriage is changing. But some say not fast enough
Cultural Relativism: It refers to the idea that the values, knowledge, and behavior of people must be
understood within their own cultural context; that is standards, behaviors, norms, and values within the culture
and not by anything outside.

What is Cultural Relativism?

Is the view that all beliefs, customs, and ethics are relative to the individual within his own social context.

In other words, “right” and “wrong” are culture-specific

“Different cultures have different moral codes” often is used as a key to understanding morality. Proponents
argue that there is not a universal truth in ethics; there are only the various cultural codes and nothing more.
The customs of different societies is all that exists.

Cultural Relativists Emphasize the Assumptions

● Different societies have different moral codes
● The moral code of a society determines what is right within the society; so, if a society says that a
certain action is right, at least in that society.
● There is no objective standard that can be used to judge one society’s code as better than another’s.
There are no moral truths that always hold for all people.
● The moral code of our own society has no special status; is is but one among many.
● It is arrogant for us to judge other cultures. We should always be tolerant of them.

Conflicting Philosophy in Cultural Relativism

1. The Debate on Universal Human Rights
Questioning whether human rights are universal is a philosophical debate that depends on fundamental
interpretations of what is right and, indeed, to what extent rights are accepted and enjoyed by all.

2. Cultural Relativism and Cultural Imperialism

While cultural relativism refers to the idea that the values, knowledge, and behavior of people must be
understood within their own cultural context; that is, standards, behaviors, norms, and values within the
culture and not by anything outside. Cultural Imperialism on the other hand occurs when one
community imposes or exports various of its own way of life onto another community.

3. The Vega Verdict: Pura Luka’s Blasphemy Case in the Philippines

4. Military Opposes Sogie Bill, Say it Could Compromise Rights of the Majority.