Cultural Relativism – Essay – Jamela Miska
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Cultural Relativism
Cultural relativism is the conception of right and wrong and how that idea differs from culture to culture. Acceptance of this idea is what cultural relativism truly is. If we as humans can accept one another’s cultural beliefs and practices, we can say we are cultural relativists. Rachels’ says cultural relativism is not a good ethical theory because it prevents you from drawing conclusions. It is the same as the ‘null set’ in mathematics, meaning there are no meaningful rules. Tolerance fits into the discussion of cultural relativism simply because without tolerance, it would be extremely difficult to run our societies. In the American culture, we feel we should only be tolerant of people who are only willing to be tolerant. Every country would be at war with one another, trying to tell one another what is really right. But who is to say what is right and what is wrong?

There are many objections against cultural relativism, I believe the most powerful objection is that of which explains how cultural relativism can be helpful as an explanation of other cultures, but it does not justify them. It helps us understand why different cultures have accepted certain things as the norm, such as slavery, racism, genital mutilation, etc., but it is not a good argument as to why or if these actions are ever ethical. There is no argument about what is right or wrong between different cultures, we are human and we simply have to accept what other cultures consider normal. You may believe that one thing is wrong, but someone else might think the same of your practices and beliefs, not one person is morally right or wrong, it simply depends on the cultural beliefs and where that person was raised. For example, Afghanistan’s policies of not educating young women is right, Hitler’s Nazi Germany is right, even cannibalism in certain areas of the world is right. Every action any culture has ever done is right, as long as that culture believes so. Yet, if you do not follow what your culture believes is moral, you are immoral. No matter how hard one may try to change one culture’s practices or beliefs, it is nearly impossible because the culture you are attempting to change has grown and adapted this way.

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(2017, 04). Cultural Relativism. EssaysForStudent.com. Retrieved 04, 2017, from
“Cultural Relativism” EssaysForStudent.com. 04 2017. 2017. 04 2017 < "Cultural Relativism." EssaysForStudent.com. EssaysForStudent.com, 04 2017. Web. 04 2017. < "Cultural Relativism." EssaysForStudent.com. 04, 2017. Accessed 04, 2017. Essay Preview By: Jamela Miska Submitted: April 3, 2017 Essay Length: 593 Words / 3 Pages Paper type: Essay Views: 402 Report this essay Tweet Related Essays Cultural Relativism: A Moral Fallacy Cultural Relativism: A Moral Fallacy Cultural Relativism is the theory that all belief's are equally valid and that truth itself is relative, depending on the 923 Words  |  4 Pages Challenge of Cultural Relativism 2.1 How Different Cultures Have Different Moral Codes • Observed fact: different cultures have different moral codes o different things taboos and obligatory o even 915 Words  |  4 Pages Cultural Relativism Cultural Relativism Cultural Relativism argues that moral facts are determined by cultures and no objective standard can be used to pass judgment upon other cultures. 1,114 Words  |  5 Pages Differences Between Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism Differences between Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism The world today consists of an incalculable number of societies. Each society varies significantly in the different elements of 403 Words  |  2 Pages Cultural Relativism Cultural Relativism is a philosophy that believes that when it comes to matters of right and wrong, there is no good or bad action but 1,060 Words  |  5 Pages Similar Topics Summary Primacy Culture Francis Fukuyama Cultural Relativism Global Values Median Get Access to 89,000+ Essays and Term Papers Join 209,000+ Other Students High Quality Essays and Documents Sign up © 2008–2020 EssaysForStudent.comFree Essays, Book Reports, Term Papers and Research Papers Essays Sign up Sign in Contact us Site Map Privacy Policy Terms of Service Facebook Twitter

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Cultural Relativism And Different Cultures. (July 6, 2021). Retrieved from https://www.freeessays.education/cultural-relativism-and-different-cultures-essay/