PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO

Katapatan Subdivision Banay-Banay,

Cabuyao City, Laguna

CULTURAL RELATIVISM

Written Report of Group 5

Members

Ellaine Nikka Barbosa

Collene Louise Chua

Devine Grace Del Rosario

Maria Erica Jaurige

Claire Macaraeg

Karen Mae Navarro

Ma. Crisol Pasia

2BSA-1
Ethics
Prof. Norvin Tamisin
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Katapatan Subdivision Banay-Banay,
Cabuyao City, Laguna

What is Cultural Relativism?

 Cultural relativism refers to the idea that the values, knowledge, and behavior of people
must be understood within their own cultural context. This is one of the most fundamental
concepts in sociology, as it recognizes and affirms the connections between the greater
social structure and trends and the everyday lives of individual people.

 Cultural Relativism is the view that moral or ethical systems, which vary from culture to
culture, are all equally valid and no one system is really “better” than any other. This is
based on the idea that there is no ultimate standard of good or evil, so every judgment about
right and wrong is a product of society. Therefore, any opinion on morality or ethics is
subject to the cultural perspective of each person. Ultimately, this means that no moral or
ethical system can be considered the “best,” or “worst,” and no particular moral or ethical
position can actually be considered “right” or “wrong.”

 Cultural relativism is a widely held position in the modern world. Words like “pluralism,”
“tolerance,” and “acceptance” have taken on new meanings, as the boundaries of “culture”
have expanded. The loose way in which modern society defines these ideas has made it
possible for almost anything to be justified on the grounds of “relativism.” The umbrella
of “relativism” includes a fairly wide range of ideas, all of which introduce instability and
uncertainty into areas that were previously considered settled.

EXAMPLES
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Katapatan Subdivision Banay-Banay,
Cabuyao City, Laguna

 What constitutes breakfast varies widely from place to place? What is considered a typical
breakfast in Turkey, is quite different from what is considered a typical breakfast in the
U.S. or Japan. While it might seem strange to eat fish soup or stewed vegetables for
breakfast in the U.S., in other places, this is perfectly normal. Conversely, our tendency
toward sugary cereals and milk or preference for egg sandwiches loaded with bacon and
cheese would seem quite bizarre to other cultures. Similarly, but perhaps of more
consequence, rules that regulate nudity in public vary widely around the world.

 In the U.S., we tend to frame nudity in general as an inherently sexual thing, and so when
people are nude in public, people may interpret this as a sexual signal. But in many other
places around the world, being nude or partially nude in public is a normal part of life, be
it at swimming pools, beaches, in parks, or even throughout the course of daily life (see
many indigenous cultures around the world).

 Have you ever seen or eaten food from another country, such as dried squid or fried crickets
and think of it as weird and gross? This is an example of ethnocentrism! That means you
use your own culture as the center and evaluate other cultures based on it. You are judging,
or making assumptions about the food of other countries based on your own norms, values,
or beliefs. Thinking “dried squid is smelly” or “people shouldn’t eat insects” are examples
of ethnocentrism in societies where people may not eat dried squid or insects.

ADVANTAGES
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Katapatan Subdivision Banay-Banay,
Cabuyao City, Laguna

1. It is a system which promotes cooperation.

For the most part, 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. Each individual definition of success allows us to pursue stronger bonds with one another
and potentially achieve more because there are no limitations from a group level and what can or
cannot be accomplished.

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 their own definition of success.

3. People can pursue a genuine interest.

In the modern society, people are funneled toward certain career options because of their
circumstances. If you can’t afford to go to college, then you pursue a vocational career or some
sort of entrepreneurship instead of a career that requires a graduate degree. If you can’t afford to
buy a house, you go rent an apartment. 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 their strengths instead of their
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 their own specific perspective and
then learn from their experiences in a way that works best for them.

5. It preserves human cultures.

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Katapatan Subdivision Banay-Banay,
Cabuyao City, Laguna

Humanity is a very diverse set of thoughts, traditions, ideas, and practices. Many times, the
traditions of humanity are set aside so that a group 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.

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.
Looking at someone and saying, “Glad that isn’t me,” is a judgment. 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.
Although other cultures may not setup such a restriction, and others might say such a restriction
isn’t a true form of cultural relativism, people in such a system can do what makes the most sense
for them. 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. Although this process can allow for disturbing results, most cultures are based
on inclusion instead of exclusion. It is only in structures where apartheid, segregation, or purging
where disturbing outcomes are typically present.

9. It stops cultural conditioning.

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Katapatan Subdivision Banay-Banay,
Cabuyao City, Laguna

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

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. People 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’re upset
with your neighbor, then you can kill that person without consequence if your moral code allows
for murder. Instead of purchasing something, you could steal it if you see stealing as “right” to do.
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.

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Katapatan Subdivision Banay-Banay,
Cabuyao City, Laguna

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. It would stop
employers from paying someone a fair wage – or even paying them a wage at all. The only
standards that are in place are those which are set by the individual involved, which means
everyone is pursuing their own position of strength. We cannot create diversity when the emphasis
of a society is individualistic gain that can come at the expense of 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 current debate
on the transgender bathroom laws in North Carolina and Texas is a good example of this. In
cultural relativism, everyone would be able to use their 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.

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 truths.

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Katapatan Subdivision Banay-Banay,
Cabuyao City, Laguna

It’s a dark night and it is warm outside. An African-American 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. 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 perpetrates.