Relativism, Cultural and Moral

Abstract

Abstract Cultural relativism is a descriptive claim that ethical practices differ among cultures; that is, as a matter of fact, what is considered right in one culture may be considered wrong in another. Thus, the truth or falsity of cultural relativism can be determined by examining the world. There is widespread consensus among social scientists that cultural relativism is true. Moral relativism, on the other hand, is the claim that what is really right or wrong is what the culture says is right or wrong. Moral relativists accept cultural relativism as true, but they claim much more. If a culture sincerely and reflectively adopts a basic moral principle, then it is morally obligatory for members of that culture to act in accordance with that principle. The plausibility of moral relativism is widely challenged.