Cultural Relativism

As Jack Donnelly puts it: “Cultural Relativism is a doctrine that holds that (at least some) such variations are exempt from legitimate criticism by outsiders, a doctrine that is strongly supported by notions of communal autonomy and self-determination (Donnelly 1984:400).”

Why Cultural Relativism?

In relation to anthropology, cultural relativism is generally related to the observation of customs in other cultures. When looking at the activities of other cultures, some things that other cultures do may seem unethical when viewed through a Eurocentric lens, may not be so in the minds of said culture. Ethnocentrism is defined by Oxford Languages as "evaluation of other cultures according to preconceptions originating in the standards and customs of one's own culture." Eurocentrism is the same, except it is explicitly about the European perspective. However, this does not mean that actions committed by other groups cannot be called universally wrong, but it does mean that one should not be as quick to judge based on appearances. It is important to recognize that cultural relativism is not the same as moral relativism. This is illustrated best by John Tilley, who says; “A judgment is universally valid just in case it is valid for everyone. It is locally valid just in case it is valid for some, but not all, cultures. It is culturally relative just in case it has features that ensure that it’s at best locally valid, never universally so (Tilley 2001:5).”

Many anthropologists and other thinkers have weighed in on the subject, Herodotus said; “If anyone, no matter who was given the opportunity of choosing from amongst all the nations in the world the set of beliefs which he thought best, he would inevitably—after careful considerations of their relative merits—choose that of his own country. Everyone without exception believes his own native customs, and the religion he was brought up in, to be the best.” (https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/cultural-relativism) This quote is, in a nutshell, the perfect way to articulate the reason that anthropologists insist upon cultural relativism in their work. However Franz Boas was the first to articulate the idea in a modern setting, "Civilization is not something absolute, but … is relative, and … our ideas and conceptions are true only so far as our civilization goes." (https://www.biography.com/scientist/franz-boas) The approach of looking at one's own culture are better than another is known as ethnocentrism and should be avoided in the practice of anthropology.

Cultural Relativism vs. Human Rights

This dedication to cultural relativism is often in contention with human rights groups, especially in the case of female genital cutting, while human rights groups almost universally condemn the practice, anthropologists on the other hand “…assert that cultural practices have a legitimate function indigenous to the culture and that judging these practices according to international norms imposes outside values upon the society (Brennan 1989:368).” In other words, while denouncing these practices may be valid for global humanitarian groups, it is the job of the anthropologist to observe and experience these cultures as an insider. To call out these practices would be to look upon society as an outsider and impose their own values on another society. While genital mutilation is an extreme example, the tendency of cultural relativism prevents unnecessary meddling into other cultures, who may have perfectly valid reasons for doing things the way that they are done. This is a common conundrum for anthropologists who study cultures where food may not be plentiful or certain resources are scarce. These scarcities have impacted their culture and their rituals, but the question of whether it is moral to study them without offering them help you are capable of is one that has been asked countless times. It's also been asked the other way around; would it be moral to go in and disrupt their way of life, even if you seem to be helping? This isn’t to say that the human rights groups are wrong for asking for the abolishing of this practice, there is much grassroots support for this in the countries where the practices originate. An anthropologist would not say to ignore the issue, but they would insist upon focusing on the people it affects, and not as much the effect it has on Western sensibilities.

Learn More

http://anthropology.iresearchnet.com/cultural-relativism/

https://newrepublic.com/article/154752/pioneers-cultural-relativism

https://www.chronicle.com/article/Moral-Relativism-vs-Cultural/83855

https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat/individuals-and-society/perception-prejudice-and-bias/v/ethnocentrism-and-cultural-relativism-in-group-and-out-group

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/culturalanthropology/chapter/cultural-relativism/

Related

• Ethnocentricism

• Emic and etic

• Moral relativism

• Multiculturalism

Sources

Biography. (2019). Franz Boas. Available at: https://www.biography.com/scientist/franz-boas Accessed 15 Nov. 2019?.

Donnelly, Jack (1984). "Cultural relativism and universal human rights." Hum. Rts. Q. 6: 400.

Goodreads.com. (2019). Cultural Relativism Quotes (13 quotes).Available at: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/cultural-relativism Accessed 15 Nov. 2019?.

Shell-Duncan, Bettina, and Ylva Hernlund, eds. (2000) Female" circumcision" in Africa: culture, controversy, and change. Lynne Rienner Publishers, Boulder, CO

Tilley, John J (2007). "Cultural relativism." The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology: 1-2.