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Location 3

Cultural Relativism

Afghans Share Their Views on the West’s Influence

(New York Times)

The principle that an individual human's beliefs and activities should be understood by others in terms of that individual's own culture. (Princeton University).

Philosophical Viewpoint

The view that no culture is superior to any other culture when comparing systems of morality, law, politics, etc. The notion that all cultural beliefs are equally valid and that truth itself is relative, depending on the cultural environment. Those who hold to cultural relativism hold that all religious, ethical, aesthetic, and political beliefs are completely relative to the individual within a cultural identity. (Cultural Relativism.com)

Foundation

This principle was founded by Franz Boas, a pioneer of Anthropological study he stated:

"...civilization is not something absolute, but ... is relative, and ... our ideas and conceptions are true only so far as our civilization goes." (Boas "Museums of Ethnology and their classification" 1887)

Bell: "Toward a Truly International Rights Regime"

Differing Viewpoints in INT Human Rights and Cultural Relativism

A conversation that embodies the human right struggle with the concept of cultural relativism.

Joseph Lo: Cultural Relativism

Samuel Demo: Universal Human Rights

Western values are cast in universalistic terms, with little room for input by Asian viewpoints. (pg. 26)

That shows it's not just western liberals who care about their rights. Human rights are universal after all. (pg. 26)

This view is in accurate: not all leaders dispise their own citizens and human rights failures by government aren't always delibrate. Its also counterproductive, because it reminds locals of an earlier era of self-righteous missionaries sent by imperial powers to "enlighten" the natives. (pg. 27)

I don't think i'll ever understand why governments torture and murder their citizens. (pg. 27)

Donnelly: The Relative Universality of Human Rights

He states: "Human Rights are often presented as either Universal or Relative. In fact, though they are both." (pg. 37)

Important points

Universality and Relativity

Yemeni Child Bride, 8, Married to a 40-year old Man, Dies of Internal Injuries after Wedding Night (International Business Times)

"No particular culture or comprehensive doctrine is by name either compatible or incompatible with human rights." (pg. 44)

Both relativity and universality are essential to international human rights. There is danger both in treating the universal as if it were relative and in falsely universalizing particular contingent practices." (pg. 47)

Universal in the most basic since means "applies across all of a particular domain. Therefore Universal in this sense is relative to that particular domain. Human rights are relatively universal. (pg. 37)

Therefore, effective advocacy of human rights require knowledge of and sensitivity to how human rights fit with local cultures and histories, economies, ecologies, and sociol structures." (pg. 45)

If the practices of others are particularly objectionable, even strongly sanctioned traditions may deserve neither respect nor our toleration." (pg. 46)

What do you think?

Discussion

Joseph Lo makes a statement to his colleague Samuel Demo towards the end of Ch. 1 which stated “There you go again, looking at this issue only in terms of what’s the most effective strategy to make “them” come around to “our” viewpoint. My point is that the end itself shouldn’t be fixed by western perspectives.” (pg. 46)

What was your reaction to this? Did you agree with Lo or Demo? He later speaks about the Vietnam War which echoes the recent Iraqi war in regards to the U.S condoning their actions “in the name of human rights and democracy." How does Syria fit into this argument?

Cultural Relativism and Human Rights

By Alejandra Orellana

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