Question

Do you think subjective or cultural relativism is true? In other words, do you think that there is anything, no matter how small or specific, that is universally morally applicable to all humans? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Culture is defined as the way of life it is the belief, values, and practices that are followed by the people from generation to generation.

While studying culture one should not be pre judgmental, and look at other's cultures from his point of view to define what is right and what is wrong. Every culture has its positive and negative points it depends upon how we perceive it that is why one should remain culturally relative because the true morality and value exist in context to the culture.

Due to globalization and better transport facilities, people migrate from one place to another. With them, they carry cultural values, beliefs, religion, language, norms, etc. It has resulted in cultural exchange, and many cultural changes are taking place due to the interaction between people from different cultures.

With the interaction, people derive certain views about the other culture as they perceive it and as per their cultural views if one draws negative views it gives rise to ethnocentrism while; positive views about other culture gives rise to cultural relativism.

Cultural relativism says that cultural values are related to each culture it cannot have a uniform code on whose basis one can judge other's cultures. It is the personal views of an individual. The cultural values depend upon one's behavior; the behavior is developed due to historical and present events. To have an opinion about culture and passing a judgment one must know what were the events that surround that culture and have given rise to certain norms that are followed by the people.

Yes, although cultural relativism is present some certain facts and acts are morally acceptable throughout the world. If we look at Kantian theory telling lies, robbery, killing someone is universally accepted as a wrong act. Helping others, making donations are universally accepted as good behavior and norms. These are universally accepted.

Killing in self-defense will be accepted by the followers of a utilitarian theory in all the cultures, the judiciary also accepts it and is not treated an unlawful and punishable act while killing someone in revenge is universally accepted as wrong and unlawful act within all the culture.

Cultural relativism says that no one should be judgmental about other's cultures. In one of the places in South India, there is a tradition to kill the elderly people by giving poison it is called Thalaikoothal (senicide killing elderly people), the tradition is going on from generation to generation. The elderly knows that they have to drink poison and die because they believe life after death is much better than old age suffering. Can it be globally acceptable under cultural relativism theory?