Cultural relativism Essay

Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism: Christianity vs. Voodoo The way we view different cultures can determine our own sense of belonging in our own cultural groups. Ethnocentrism and cultural relativism are the two main ways to compare cultures. Neither one is better than the other, there are benefits to each. After defining these terms, Christianity and Voodoo will be compared using these methods. Firstly, ethnocentrism is the idea that one’s own culture is superior to others. This provides a…

degree in cultural anthropology, I hope to work in community outreach. This essay will discuss the anthropological concepts of: cultural relativism, holism, social change, participatory research, reciprocity, and applied and engaged anthropology. Also, synthesize how these concepts influenced my goals in life and my perception of social issues. When introduced to anthropology especially cultural, cultural relativism is one of the first concepts explained. Franz Boas emphasized…

Kathleen, I agree that ethical relativism is not true because although we can accept differences in moral, cultural norms, practices, and beliefs, there is still a stronghold in my mind that morality can hold some of these beliefs and practices morally wrong. From my research and reading ethical relativism is a theory that is relative to the norms of one’s culture and fluctuates right from wrong on an individual and group level. This is the deciding factor between cultures actions and whether…

“In rhetoric and ethics, two wrongs make a right and two wrongs don't make a right are phrases that denote philosophical norms. "Two wrongs don't make a right" has been considered as a fallacy of relevance, in which an allegation of wrongdoing is countered with a similar allegation but ends up with no achievement.” Good morning and welcome, I am Sam Mills, a student from Saint Joseph's Nudgee College. Today I will be talking about the thesis statement of “two wrongs don't make a right” The Act…

society is what determines whether certain behaviors are acceptable. Furthermore, a person's individual beliefs should be taken into consideration and therefore help determine whether suicide can be condoned. This belief follows the idea of cultural relativism which states that “a sophisticated understanding of the world must include an appreciation of such differences between cultures” (James Rachels). In other words, various cultures have varying ethical codes, and these differences should…

During the early 20th century, anthropologist Franz Boas created the term cultural relativity which was defined as, every culture and society must be understood on its own terms, not that of outsiders. This means that as an anthropologist, to truly study a society, immersing yourself with no biased thought and an open mind are the most important aspects. Cultural relativity is closely related to another key term, cultural relativism. This is the idea that we should not make judgments about other…

Franz Boas: An Anthropological Pioneer Often referred to as the “father of modern anthropology”, Franz Boas is best known for establishing the area of cultural anthropology. Having possessed a scientific background with a doctorate in physics, he was one of the first scientists of his day to question the beliefs behind social Darwinism and scientific racism, and try to come to an understanding regarding the differences among people and their cultures. Boas dedicated his life to the study of…

under most state laws; however, judges often consider ethical theories in court case discussions surrounding the topic. Nearly any ethical theory could be applied to the question of surrogacy, yet it mainly encompasses three specific ones. Cultural Relativism, Kantianism, and the Justice Theory are all ethical ways of thinking that must be expressed to fully comprehend and debate the concerns of surrogacy use. Along with three theories, the ethical dilemma of surrogacy encompasses three…

Rather it is composed of several different ethical theories. Throughout this course so far we have talked about Cultural Relativism, Subjectivism, Divine Command Theory, Ethical Egoism, and Social Contract. Each of these theories has their own unique takes on what a person’s morals should be based off and how they are perceived. One theory that stems from morality is known as Cultural Relativism. This concept essentially states that moral codes are distinctive amongst different cultures. In…

Are all Cultures Just as Valid? “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” To understand cultural relativism, we must first understand what culture is. The word “culture” originally meant care for growing living things, such as plants. A culture is a set of ideas and ways of acting that is developed by a group of people who interact with each other, and that influences how they live. Cultures are passed down from generation to generation through words, through expressive actions, and through things…