PHIL 1200 Chapter Notes - Chapter 15: Cultural Relativism, Superiority Complex
15 May 2017
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4(cid:524) there is no (cid:498)universal truth(cid:499) in ethics (cid:523)contrary, perhaps, to physics(cid:524). wrong. Rather, we should be tolerant and accepting toward them. Usually, cultural relativists tend to adopt the stronger positions. In this way, they pose a threat to moral philosophy and perhaps morality in general (we will see how). All different cultural relativist positions have a common starting point: Different societies have different moral codes and practices. From very early on, it has become apparent to philosophers that different people in different nations have different moral notions. From this, a number of conclusions can be drawn and arguments be drawn. Two main lines of argument possible from here: Claim that the moral practices of others are wrong and that our own are right. But this has the danger of some cultural superiority complex, and has often been used for chauvinistic purposes (for example, in the imperialist period).
