Cultural Pluralism and Moral Education

Abstract

In this paper I will consider the relationship between cultural pluralism and moral education. I will first outline necessary condi tions for a society to be culturally pluralistic, and will then attempt to outline conditions for an ideal culturally pluralistic society. These conditions, particularly the conditions for an ideal culturally plural istic society, suggest approaches to moral education. Implicit in the conditions are certain moral values which can be taught and can have a central place in moral education. The outline of an ideal cul turally pluralistic society and the moral values implicit in the out line suggest reasons for adopting ideal cultural pluralism as a model for a democratic society. Before examining the relationship between cultural pluralism and moral education, I will consider the question of what cultural pluralism is. Is cultural pluralism the only kind of pluralism possible in a society? If not, what other kinds of pluralism are there, and how would cultural pluralism differ from them? What cultural pluralism is can best be stated by outlining conditions which must be present for a society to be identified as a culturally pluralistic society. An outline of these conditions would also show how cultural plural ism differs from other types of pluralism. A culturally pluralistic society is not simply a society which is politically pluralistic, although it is difficult to see how a cul turally pluralistic society could exist without some form of political pluralism. A politically pluralistic society can be defined as one in which decisions result from the interactions of a variety of interest groups, with some measure of equality existing among the interest groups. Through the give and take between interest groups, the interests of individuals can be represented and considered in the process of decision making.1 A society could be politically pluralistic