Anthropological Principle

Cultural relativism is an anthropological principle that suggests understanding a person's beliefs, values, and practices based on their own culture rather than judging them against another's criteria

Equal Value of Cultural Systems

Cultural relativism posits that all cultural systems are inherently equal in value and that the moral and ethical systems of each are valid in their own right

Challenge to Absolute Standards

This concept challenges the notion of absolute standards in ethics and morality, proposing that these are culturally bound and can only be evaluated within their cultural context

Roots in Early 20th Century

Cultural relativism emerged from the work of anthropologists such as Franz Boas, who sought to counter ethnocentric perspectives

Influence of Franz Boas

Boas' approach to cultural study, emphasizing fieldwork and the perspective of the cultural insider, laid the foundation for cultural relativism and influenced subsequent generations of anthropologists

Purpose of Cultural Relativism

Proponents of cultural relativism argue that it fosters empathy and understanding, as it requires observers to suspend judgment and view practices and beliefs from the perspective of the insider

Potential for Moral Nihilism

Critics argue that cultural relativism can lead to moral nihilism, potentially excusing harmful practices if they conform to cultural norms

Universal Morality vs. Cultural Relativism

The tension between cultural relativism and the concept of a universal morality is a central ethical debate, as cultural relativism suggests that moral codes are relative to each culture

Balancing Cultural Differences and Human Rights

The challenge lies in balancing respect for cultural differences with the protection of fundamental human rights, as cultural relativism can be used to defend practices that violate internationally recognized human rights

Endocannibalism of the Wari' People

The Wari' people of the Amazon practice endocannibalism as a form of mourning, consuming the flesh of deceased kin as a way to honor and remember them

Communal Sharing of the Yupik People

The Yupik of Alaska have communal sharing as a core value, which influences their social and marital structures in ways that differ from Western individualistic cultures

Application of Cultural Relativism

These cases demonstrate the application of cultural relativism in understanding practices that may be outside the norms of another culture