Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary clearly defines ethnocentrism as the “characterization by or based on the attitude that one’s own group is superior.” To address the deeper issues associated to ethnocentrism requires a more explicit definition. In this sense‚ ethnocentrism can be defined as the making of false assumptions regarding others’ ways based on our own limited experience. The key word is assumptions‚ because oftentimes we are not even aware that we are being ethnocentric -- we don’t understand
Free Stereotype Prejudice
Relativism Relativism is the philosophical position that all points of view are equally valid and that all truth is relative to the individual. Under the umbrella of relativism‚ there are many different groups‚ like cognitive‚ moral‚ and situational relativism. In moral/ethical relativism it amounts to saying that all moralities are equally good. In cognitive relativism it implies that all beliefs‚ or belief systems‚ are equally true. This essay will refute relativism‚ and its basic premise.
Premium Morality Cultural relativism Truth
Ethical relativism is an idea that our ethical values aren’t set in stone. They are determined by who we are‚ where we live‚ what century we were born in‚ or what part of the world we are located. Certainly‚ those people who live now in the year 2009 would not agree with the practices of slavery that were widely used in the 1800’s. Even more than in the past‚ we can we see this across the map. In Africa‚ slaves are still used for hard labor and paid small if any wages at all. Although‚ the United
Premium Morality Female genital cutting Culture
different people may hold different attitudes. One may criticize on a backward culture‚ and others may judge on it fairly. Like the authors of “Body Ritual Among the Nacirema” and “Voodoo in Haiti”‚ they hold quite different attitudes and views to these exotic cultures. Broadly speaking‚ Horace Miner‚ the author of “Body Ritual Among the Nacirema”‚ criticizes Nacirema’s uncivilized culture. In the article‚ Miner describes how the tribes perform the strange sadism rituals to very extreme level. The holy-mouth-man
Free Sociology Anthropology Culture
Ethical Relativism: the Hands-off Theory Ethical relativism is a simple concept. It is defined as the idea that ethical values are relative to the culture in which they are found. As exemplified in Hinman’s Ethics‚ a businessman in different parts of the world may use a bribe in order to reach an agreement with an associate‚ whereas in America‚ bribes are frowned upon and often illegal. The ethical value‚ bribing‚ is used differently between an American and a foreign businessman. But is there
Premium Morality Ethics
Cultural relativism holds that there is no universal morality that is common among all cultures. Specifically‚ in an article on cultural relativism James Rachels states the following characteristics of cultural relativism: 1) Different societies have different moral codes; 2) There is no objective standard that can be used to judge one societal code better than another; 3) The moral code of our own society has no special status; it is merely one among many; 4) There is no "universal truth"
Premium Cultural relativism Morality Culture
July 2‚ 2010 Ethics Reaction Paper 1 Relativism and Universalism The battle between relativism and universalism ideologies has been going on for several years now. There have been many highly respected people agreeing and disagreeing on which belief is right and wrong. The two well known are American Anthropologist Ruth Benedict and Dr. Louis Pojman. Upon reading their work‚ I found both of them to have very excellent points. I found myself hard to just pick one ideology. After
Premium Culture Middle East North Africa
As a supreme monarch I‚ Frederick William the Great Elector‚ should be the active leader of Nacirema. In my times I was the best ruler and I made many of accomplishment in my life. Besides all the other candidates that is running against me‚ I believe I will be the only one who can make Nacirema the best of nations in the world. There are many of reasons why I would be the best ruler of this nation and I will highlight two accomplishments that I completed that should allow me to obtain the position
Premium United States President of the United States United States Constitution
Professor Emma Linton of the Martian Institute of Interplanetary Cultural Anthropology might have come up with her unexpected conclusions regarding to the body rituals of the Nacirema people. Linton’s report was wildly inaccurate written due to the facts that she does not have any qualitative previous knowledge about the culture and she like to draw a comparison between cultures. She did not follow all the methodological process an anthropologist should follow‚ and a long term of studying of the
Premium Culture Ritual The Culture
Running head: RELATIVISM AND MORALITY Relativism and Morality Rodney L. Cotton SOC 120 Robert Neely February 21‚ 2011 Relativism and Morality In the article‚ “Some Moral Minima‚” Lenn E. Goodman raises the question‚ “if it is true that no norm can be made absolute unless some other is compromised‚ are there no rules that tell us that principles are principles – no norms delineating concretely‚ and uncompromisingly‚ wrong from right?” (Goodman‚ 2010) Goodman goes on to state that the
Premium Ethics Morality Philosophy