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Debating whether moral truths are culturally dependent or apply to all humans regardless of context.
Imagine a society where it is a moral obligation to consume the remains of deceased relatives to preserve their spirit. To them, our practice of burial or cremation seems wasteful and disrespectful. Is one culture 'right' and the other 'wrong,' or is morality simply a matter of where you were born?
Cultural Relativism is the theory that there is no such thing as objective truth in ethics; there are only the various cultural codes. Proponents argue that 'right' and 'wrong' are strictly determined by the norms of a specific society. This is often supported by the Cultural Differences Argument:
1. Different cultures have different moral codes. 2. Therefore, there is no objective 'truth' in morality.
While this promotes tolerance, philosophers point out a logical flaw: just because people disagree about something (like whether the Earth is flat or round), it doesn't mean there is no objective fact. In logic, we say that the conclusion does not follow from the premise: .
Consider two cultures: 1. Culture A: Believes burning the dead is the only way to release the soul. 2. Culture B: Believes burying the dead is the only way to honor the body.
While the actions are different, the underlying universal value is the same: Respect for the dead. Relativism often focuses on the surface-level custom rather than the shared moral principle.
Quick Check
If a culture practices something we find 'wrong,' what does a strict Cultural Relativist say we should do?
Answer
A strict relativist would say we have no right to judge them, as their moral code is as valid as our own within their context.
One of the strongest arguments against relativism is the concept of Moral Progress. If relativism is 100% true, we can never say that a society has 'improved.' For example, we could not say that the abolition of slavery in the United States was a moral improvement; we could only say it was a moral change.
To say that society is 'better' now than it was 200 years ago requires an external standard or a 'yardstick' to measure that improvement. If that yardstick exists, then relativism must be false because that yardstick represents an objective moral truth that exists outside of cultural opinion.
1. In 1900, many cultures believed women should not vote. 2. In 2024, most of those same cultures believe women must have the right to vote. 3. If we call this 'progress,' we are admitting that the 2024 standard is closer to the truth than the 1900 standard. This implies an objective truth exists: .
Quick Check
Why does the idea of 'social reform' (like the Civil Rights Movement) conflict with Cultural Relativism?
Answer
Because a reformer claims the current cultural code is 'wrong,' but under relativism, the cultural code is the definition of 'right.'
Moral Universalism (or Objectivism) suggests that some moral principles apply to all human beings, regardless of their culture or era. This is the philosophical backbone of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Universalists argue that certain values are necessary for any society to survive. For instance, a society that didn't value truth-telling or prohibited murder would eventually collapse. Therefore, these aren't just 'cultural preferences'; they are functional necessities for human flourishing. The challenge for Universalists is distinguishing between genuine universal truths and merely imposing one's own cultural values on others (Moral Imperialism).
Consider the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). 1. The Relativist View: It is a long-standing cultural tradition that maintains social cohesion; outsiders should not interfere. 2. The Universalist View: It violates the universal right to bodily autonomy and causes objective physical harm. 3. The Synthesis: Many modern thinkers use the 'Harm Principle'—cultures are free to vary in their customs unless those customs cause clear, non-consensual harm to individuals.
Which of the following is a major consequence of accepting strict Cultural Relativism?
Universalists argue that certain rules (like 'don't lie') are found in all cultures because:
The 'Cultural Differences Argument' is logically sound because the conclusion follows directly from the premise.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to explain to a friend why a 'Moral Relativist' would have a hard time explaining why the end of the Holocaust was a good thing.
Practice Activity
Find a news article about a controversial international law. Identify which side is using a 'Universalist' argument and which side is using a 'Relativist' argument.