Rachels, The Challenge of Cultural Relativism

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Rachels, The Challenge of Cultural Relativism

• 9/6/07
• PHL 231

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Cultural Relativism

• Different societies have different moral codes
• The moral code of a society determines what is
  right (and wrong) within that society
• There is no objective standard that can be used
  to judge one societys code better than another

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The Cultural Differences Arg. (CDA)

• (1) Different cultures have different moral codes
• (2) Therefore, there is no objective truth in
  morality. Right and wrong are only matters of
  opinion, and opinions vary from culture to
  culture (p.35).

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Analysis of CDA

• It is not sound because it is invalid
• An invalid argument is such that its premises may
  be true while its conclusion false. In other
  words, the conclusion does not follow from the
  premises.

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What if Cult. Relativism were true?

• Then
• We could no longer say that the customs of other
  societies are morally inferior to our own (and
  vice versa).
• We could decide whether actions are right or
  wrong just by consulting the standards of our
  society.
• The idea of moral progress is called into doubt.

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How much do cultures differ?

• A difference in values may be attributable to
  some other aspect of social lifesomeones belief
  system.
• Ex. Sacred cows
• Dont all cultures value their young? truth
  telling? prohibitions on murder?
• These are rules that make social living possible.

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So, is there a culture-neutral standard?

• Arguments for excision (mentioned on p.39)
  attempt to justify it by arguing that it is
  beneficial.
• Ahmaybe this could serve as a culture-neutral
  standard. Then we can ask whether a practice
  does or does not benefit society.

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Why are there still cultural relativists?

• (1) There is an understandable nervousness about
  interfering in the social customs of other
  peoples (p.39).
• There is a difference between judging a cultural
  practice morally deficient and thinking that
  something ought to be done about it.
• (2) People want to be tolerant.
• But tolerance doesnt require that we regard all
  beliefs as equal.

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And

• (3) People are reluctant to express contempt for
  the society being criticized.
• But, condemning a practice is not condemning the
  entire culture.

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What can we learn?

• First, it is dangerous to assume our preferences
  are based on an absolute standard.
• Many of our preferences are not.
• Second, it encourages an open mind.