The Pros and Cons of Ethical Relativism
1. Introduction
Anthropology is the study of human beings, their societies and cultures. It looks at how people interact with each other and their environment. Culture shows the collection of norms and values shared by groups and people in a society and at the same time, it controls how people interact amongst themselves. In essence, culture is what makes us human. It is an important aspect of our lives that shapes our behavior and actions.
The importance of culture can be seen in every aspect of our lives. It influences the way we dress, the food we eat, the way we speak, the music we listen to and even the way we think. Culture also affects our values and beliefs. It is what defines us as individuals and sets us apart from other people.
Culture plays a significant role in shaping our ethical values and beliefs. Ethical values are the principles that guide our behavior in life. They help us determine what is right or wrong, good or bad. Our ethical values are influenced by our culture, religion, family and friends. The way we were raised also plays a role in shaping our ethical values.
There are many different cultures around the world with different ethical values. What one culture may consider to be right, another may consider to be wrong. This is because different cultures have different ways of looking at things. As a result, there is no one correct answer to ethical questions.
5. Examples of Ethical Relativism in Different Cultures
There are many examples of ethical relativism in different cultures. One example is polygamy. In some cultures, polygamy (having more than one wife) is considered to be morally acceptable while in others it is not. Another example is divorce. In some cultures, divorce is considered to be morally acceptable while in others it is not.
Some cultures also have different views on censorship. In some cultures, censorship (the government restricting what people can see or read) is considered to be morally acceptable while in others it is not. There are also different views on abortion in different cultures. In some cultures, abortion is considered to be morally acceptable while in others it is not.
6. Criticisms of Ethical Relativism
There are several criticisms of ethical relativism. One criticism is that it leads to moral chaos because there are no objective standards for determining what is right or wrong, good or bad. Without these objective standards, anything goes and anything can be justified no matter how horrific it may be.
Another criticism of ethical relativism is that it leads to a lack of respect for other cultures because it denies the existence of objective moral truths. If there are no objective moral truths, then all cultures are equally valid and there is no reason to respect one over another. This can lead to prejudice and bigotry towards other cultures who do not share our own values and beliefs.
A final criticism of ethical relativism is that it cannot account for certain universal moral principles such as the Golden Rule (do unto others as you would have them do unto you). This principle exists across all cultures and religions yet ethical relativism would deny its existence because it cannot be proven objectively true.
7. Conclusion
In conclusion, ethical relativism is the idea that there is no one correct answer to ethical questions. Different cultures have different ways of looking at things and as a result, they have different ethical values. This can lead to moral chaos and a lack of respect for other cultures. Ethical relativism also has difficulty accounting for certain universal moral principles.