Cultural Relativism

Eskimo kisses....OF DEATH!!!

Consider the Eskimos (indigenous peoples of Alaska):

• In Eskimo societies, it isn't uncommon for men to have multiple wives, and to share their wives with guests to show hospitality. In fact, it wasn't uncommon for more dominant men to have access to the wives of other men in the community. For the women, they may leave their husbands at will as long as the husband isn't opposed.
• In these same societies, infanticide is practiced, and it isn't uncommon for women to kill their babies without judgment as well as to leave their elderly out in the cold to die.

Who are we to say that this is wrong?

Cultural Relativism

The cultural relativist would argue that there is no such thing as universal moral truth, and therefore we have no grounds to say what is or isn't ethical in another culture. Their traditions work for them, and ours for us, but we shouldn't force our values on others.

Consider the following:

The Eskimos believe that there is nothing wrong with killing unwanted infants, but Americans believe that killing babies is wrong.

Therefore, killing babies is neither objectively right nor objectively wrong, it's just a matter of opinion that varies from culture to culture.

Do you see any issues with this?

The Cultural Differences Argument

More generally put...

1. Different cultures have different ideas of what is right or wrong.

2. Therefore, there is no objective idea of right or wrong, only opinions that vary from one culture to another.

We'll call this the Cultural Differences Argument.

Journal #2 - The Baldies of Hairland

Read Dilemma #73 "The Baldies of Hairland."

1. How would a cultural relativist respond the the situation in Hairland? Why? (minimum 4 sentences)

2. What do you think is the morally right way for the Relatavians to respond to the delegation from Hairland? Provide reasoning for your answer. (minimum 4 sentences)

1. Differences across cultures are exaggerated.

Consider further the Eskimo example:

• Eskimos will always keep their babies if conditions allow, but because of the harsh environmental conditions, the nomadic nature of Eskimo life, longer periods of nursing which limit the amount of babies possible to care for at one time, and other considerations, babies must sometimes be killed to ensure the rest of the family survives.
• Infanticide is usually a last resort if adoption isn't possible.

Are the Eskimos' values really significantly different from ours?

2. Some rules are necessary for societies to exist at all.

Which rules are necessary for societies to exist and function?

3. There is a moral reality-disagreement does not mean there's no right choice.

• Just because there is a disagreement on something doesn't mean that there isn't a correct choice.
• It doesn't follow that because there are different opinions with regard to ethics, that there is therefore no ethical truth. One opinion may very well be true, and the other false.

4. Relativism is inconsistent.

• "The relativist cannot consistently reject all intolerance. In tolerating other moralities than his own, he must tolerate their intolerance. Yet he has already come out against intolerance. Somehow he needs to both tolerant and intolerant at the same time."
• For cultural relativists, tolerance is not relative.

5. Relativism can't make moral judgments between cultures or negatively evaluate oppressive cultures.

Lessons from Relativism

• Cultural relativism reminds us that we shouldn't assume that all of our societal practices or personal preferences are based on some absolute rational standard. Sometimes they really are just preferences.
• Christians more than anyone should reject true "intolerance"--we should absolutely respect other cultures insofar as their customs simply differ from ours but still promote human flourishing--but this is not the same as forsaking any concern with ethics in other cultures!
• All humans reflect God's image, and diverse human cultures are a reflection of God's character in humanity.