Cultural Relativism Essay

heathen relativism is the view that exclusively article of faiths, customs, and ethics ar relative to the individual deep down his own social context. In some other words, properly and maltreat ar culture-specific what is considered deterrent example in wiz society whitethorn be considered immoral in some other(prenominal), and, since no universal standard of morality exists, no one has the right to judge another societys customs.Cultural relativism is widely accepted in modern anthropology. Cultural relativists believe that all cultures atomic number 18 be find outming in their own right and are of equal value. Diversity of cultures, even those with conflict moral beliefs, is not to be considered in terms of right and wrong or good and bad. Todays anthropologist considers all cultures to be equally legitimate expressions of benevolent existence, to be studied from a rigorously neutral perspective.Cultural relativism is closely related to to ethical relativism, which views truth as multivariate and not absolute. What constitutes right and wrong is immovable solely by the individual or by society. Since truth is not neutral, thither force out be no objective standard which applies to all cultures. No one can say if someone else is right or wrong it is a social occasion of personal opinion, and no society can pass judgment on another society.Cultural relativism sees nothing inherently wrong (and nothing inherently good) with any heathen expression. So, the ancient Mayan practices of self-mutilation and clement sacrifice are neither good nor bad they are simply cultural distinctives, akin to the American custom of shooting fireworks on the one-quarter of July. Human sacrifice and fireworksboth are simply different products of separate socialization.In January 2002, when President Bush referred to terrorist nations as an axis of evil, the cultural relativists were mortified. That any society would previse another society evil is swo rn statement to the relativist. The current movement to understand essential Islamrather than to fight itis a mansion house that relativism is making gains. The cultural relativist believes Westerners should not inspect their ideas on the Islamic world, including the idea that the self-destruction bombing of civilians is evil. Islamic belief in the necessity of jihad is just as valid as any belief in Western cultivation, the relativists assert, and America is as much to blame for the attacks of 9/11 as are the terrorists.Cultural relativists are generally opposed to missionary work. When the religious doctrine penetrates hearts and flip-flops lives, some cultural change always follows. For example, when Don and Carol Richardson evangelized the Sawi folks of the Netherlands New Guinea in 1962, the Sawi changed specifically, they gave up their long-held customs of cannibalism and immolating widows on their husbands funeral pyres. The cultural relativists may accuse the Richards ons of cultural imperialism, but near of the world would agree that ending cannibalism is a good thing. (For the complete story of the Sawis modulation as well as an expo of cultural reform as it relates to missions, see Don Richardsons book peace of mind Child.)Cultural relativism is the principle that an individual humans beliefs and activities should be understood by others in terms of that individuals own culture. This principle was established as axiomatic inanthropological research by Franz Boas in the first few decades of the 20th atomic number 6 and later popularized by his students. Boas first provide the idea in 1887 civilization is not something absolute, but is relative, and our ideas and conceptions are true just now so far as our civilization goes.1 but did not actually capital the term cultural relativism.