Relativity applies to physics, not ethics -Albert Einstein

1. Prepared by:
Ms. Mary Gilssie Joy Ecaldre
CULTURAL RELATIVISM
AND
ETHICAL RELATIVISM

2. Logical result of the
claims of cultural
relativism.
MORAL/ETHICAL RELATIVISM

3. A descriptive claim that ethical
practices differ among cultures,
that, as a matter of fact, what is
considered right in one culture
may be considered wrong in
another culture.
CULTURAL RELATIVISM

4. “a descriptive claim that ethical
practices differ among cultures,
that, as a matter of fact, what is
considered right in one culture
may be considered wrong in
another culture”
NORMAN BOWIE DEFINED CULTURAL RELATIVISM AS:

5. Here in the Philippines,
premarital sex is morally
unacceptable. If go to another
country, teenagers want to lose
their virginity at a young age.
EXAMPLE 1:

6. Here in the Philippines, we do
not cease to debate on the moral
acceptability of contraceptives,.
In another country, abortion is
perfectly normal, more so the
use of artificial contraceptives.
EXAMPLE 2:

7. One society make any
prohibitions on women; while
another society allows women
to have equal opportunities
and obligations as men.
EXAMPLE 3

8. They practice infanticide.
They lend their wives to their
visitors as a sign of hospitality.
Abandon their old and feeble
people in the snow to die.
JAMES RACHELS NOTES ON THE INTERESTING BUT
SEEMINGLY SCANDALOUS PRACTICES OF THE ESKIMOS:

9. WHO AND WHAT
DECIDES WHETHER
AN ACT IS MORALLY
RIGHT OR WRONG?
THE QUESTION FOR YOU IS!

10. WHO DECIDES WETHER
BRIBERY TO GAIN
BUSINESS ADVANTAGE
IS RIGHT AND WRONG?

11. CULTURE is that
which decides rightness
and wrongness of one’s
conduct.

12. Maintains the goodness
and rightness depends
on what is acceptable in
one’s culture.

13. “when in Rome, do as the
Romans do”
RICHARD DE GEORGE DESCRIBES IT IN THE
RELATION TO THE ADAGE THAT SAYS:

14. BOWIE
STRESSES THAT ETHICAL RELATIVISM:

15. W.G. SUMNER

16. THE CHALLENGE OF CULTURAL
RELATIVISM

17. THE CHALLENGE OF CULTURAL
RELATIVISM

18. THE CHALLENGE OF CULTURAL
RELATIVISM

19. SERIOUS LAPSE IN THE REASONING OF
THE ETHICAL RELATIVISTS WHEN IT
CONCLUDES THAT THERE IS NO
OBJECTIVE TRUTH IN ETHICS MERELY
FROM THE FACT THAT THERE ARE
DISAGREEMENT ABOUT AND
DIFFERENCES IN MORAL BELIEFS,
MORAL CODES AND MORAL PRACTICES
RACHELS:

20. “CULTURAL DIVERSITY
DOES NOT
NECESSARILY MEAN
ETHICAL RELATIVISM”
GEORGE ENDERLE SAYS:

21. ☺SURFACE DIFFERENCES
IN ETHICAL BEHAVIOR
☺UNDERLYING ETHICAL
PRINCIPLES
BOWIE