Popular Ethical Theories Relativism as defined by Merriam-Webster (2013)‚ is a theory that knowledge is relative to the limited nature of the mind and the condition of knowing. Philosophically‚ relativism references that all points of view are equally credible‚ and that all truth is related to the individual (Westacott‚ 2005). Relativism can more specifically be defined as “the nature and existence of items of knowledge‚ qualities‚ values or logical entities non-trivially obtain their natures
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positives and negatives regarding the concept of cultural relativism‚ but his overall position is that cultural relativism is not a strong philosophy. On the flip side of that Immanuel Kant has a completely different ethical theory that is based around deontology. Despite its positives cultural relativism cannot be defended against Rachel’s criticism‚ but Kant’s ethical theory cannot necessarily defeat cultural relativism. Cultural Relativism is the idea that moral practices and social norms change
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This is because of the use of cultural relativism‚ which is the belief that something is good or wrong if and only if it is approved or disapproved in a given culture. Right and wrong values vary from society to society; therefore‚ there is no standard base to judge what is universally right or wrong between the different cultures. Because of this‚ societies may disagree about the morality of what is right and wrong. Gensler believes that if cultural relativism is true‚ then there are no right or wrong
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studies‚ there is a balance. There is a balance‚ especially‚ in the continuum of the relationship between the concepts of cultural relativism and ethnocentrism. Ethnocentrism is defined as “a point of view that one’s own way of life is to be preferred above all others” (Rosado). This is an interesting viewpoint on life‚ contrasted by the definition of cultural relativism‚ which is the view that “values that are established by a culture are relative to the cultural ambiance out of which they arise”
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The authors describe cultural relativism in this chapter. They explain cultural relativism with some examples such as Callatians‚ who lived in India and ate the bodies of their dead father‚ and Eskimos‚ who are native people of Alaska and had distinct moral codes‚ such as marriages‚ sexual practices‚ and infanticide. For instance‚ infanticide was common in Eskimos’ society of the early and mid-20th century. The customs seemed that they had little respect for human life. So‚ the two examples seem
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define and compare and contrast ETHNOCENTRISM and CULTURAL RELATIVISM. Discuss how you have experienced OR witnessed both concepts in our American Society. Ethnocentrism is viewing your own culture as more superior than any other culture‚ that all other groups are measured in relation to one’s own. Ethnocentrism can lead to cultural misinterpretation and it often distorts communication between human beings. + while cultural relativism is "the concept that the importance of a particular cultural
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Individual vs. Cultural relativism Some people may argue that‚ “what’s right/moral in my eyes‚ may not be right/moral in your eyes”. This is considered individual moral relativism. Cultural moral relativism is putting culture at the top of relative ethical decision-making. (Argosy University‚ 2014). These two different moral relativisms differ in the fact that one is putting what you believe first and the other is putting your culture first. I believe that individual moral relativism has some strengths
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the case of relativism‚ we can simply say that your opinion is true and mine too and nothing being wrong with that. On the other hand‚ ethical absolutism tells us that there is an objective moral code and that certain of our actions as humans are necessarily right or wrong. What would happen if we say two contradictory statements can’t coexist as Aristotle demonstrated? Through the law of non-contradiction from Aristotle and ethical absolutism‚ I will argue against ethical relativism. In ethical
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other peoples‚ in fact‚ the self-evidence of these principles is a kind of illusion.” Upon studying both the term‚ ethnocentrism‚ and cultural relativism‚ I conclude that we need to find a common ground between the two. It is not good to be too much of either. Too much ethnocentrism leads to being close minded and having to much cultural relativism may corrupt our good morals. Individuals can try to appreciate or understand one anothers cultures or beliefs without judgment. America is a
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Moral relativism is an ethical theory that refers to the concept that there is more than one correct moral judgment. The moral judgments are either correct or incorrect only relative to some specific standpoint. This does not mean that one standpoint is more privileged than any other standpoint. This comes from the idea that cultures from around the world tend to show different moral values; there are no general moral values that everyone in the world shares‚ and no one should push their own moral
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