Third ethical theory: Cultural Relativism

This theory is cognitive and subjective too. Ethical Subjectivism is base on the individual experiences while the Cultural relativism is base on cultural experiences.

The justification of the human acts are base on the opinions, beliefs and knowledge of the culture of the community which we hold to be true and correct.

for instance our culture of eating 'balut' (broiled ducks egg), it is just so easy for us to eat 'balut while other foreigners won't eat this kind of food. However, this is not a moral case. To make it a valid case instead of balut change it to a fetus. Rumors said that in some cultures a fetus is widely accepted and categorized as a food. They can be spotted and be bought in the marketplace even in broad daylight.

example of cultures that are justified in one community but neglected in the other are the ff:


  1. cannibalism
  2. same sex marriage
  3. cloning
  4. women as property
  5. slavery
  6. suicide bombings
  7. human sacrifice or offerings
  8. ethnic cleansing
  9. etc.


critics of cultural relativism
  1. Culture can't be an absolute criterion. Different cultures can cause conflicts.
  2. Oppressive tendency
  3. Disastrous for the weak and the defenseless.
  4. In the movie "The Island", if its a culture that values life then it invalidates cloning. But if its culture is utilitarianism with the use of the maximum technology then it validates cloning as it was mentioned 'the new american dream'.
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
-Edmund Burke

 

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