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Norms and values in society
How society shapes values
Norms and values in society
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Morality Is morality relative? Ruth Benedict and James Rachels have opposing views on this conroversial question. Benedict, "a foremost American anthropologist who taught at Columbia University" (Pojman 370) believes that morality is relative to one's culture and that one's behavior which is deemed moral or immoral is dependent upon cultural norms. Her argument is as such: 1. Different cultures have radically different moral codes 2. There are no objective moral principles i.e. all moral principles are culturally relative Rachels, "a professor at the University of Alabama" (Pojman 375) disagrees with Benedict and believes that morality is not relative. Furthermore he holds Benedicts "Cultural differences argument" to be invalid. One who sides with Bendedict would also agree with a quote from her book "Patterns of Culture" that "morality differs in every society and is a convenient term for socially approved habits." This quote seems logical, simply stated it means cultures approve of rituals and beliefs that the entire society shares. Society defines what is moral at a certain point in time. Morality is adaptive and can shange over time, however it is still dependent upon its culture to decide whether it is accepted or not accepted. For example, in the early twentieth century, pre-marital sex was considered a huge sin and looked down upon with disgrace. A person's entire character was jeopordized if they had participated in pre-marital sex. Today however, although pre-marital sex is not considered virtuous, society does not cast aside those who have sex before marriage. It is considered normal as a matter of fact to have several partners before marriage, that is , if you even decide to get married (ano... ... middle of paper ... ...erent cultures have radically different moral codes" is wrong because the differences are not radical, and there are universal truths. One could point out that all societies have an inate tendency to care for their young and other young in general, or that murder is not accepted in any culture. One could also argue that using the prusit of truth as an example will show that morality is not relative. Instead, universal morality exists, but not all cultres are aware of it. Rachels gives the example that some societies believe thayt the earth is flat, however we bleieve that the earth is round. Rachels uses this to show that the underlying fact is simply that they disagree. He further states "there is no reason to thing that if the world is round everyone must know it. Similarly , there is no reason to thing that if there is moral truth everyone must know it".
Yes, there can be different moral rules for different ethnic and cultural groups. Every culture should be allowed to follow their own set of moral rules to a certain extent .
Each culture on earth has its own traditions, customs, and even habits that are modeled after the previous zeitgeist. This evolution through the generations however brings about change and metamorphosis as to what a culture perceives as normal, where one generation to the next has noticeable differences in their cultural norm. These changes are often small from one generation to the next, but have astronomical differences on a grander scale. An example of this can be seen from one cultural zeitgeist to the next in our perception of moralistic right and wrong. Two thousand years ago, pedophilia was a commonplace occurrence, while today it a despicable crime. The action of this has not changed but the cultural perception has. What happened during these thousands of
Ruth Benedict is an American anthropologist who views morality as dependent on the varying histories and environments of different cultures. Benedict argues that many cultures are completely opposite when it comes to specific areas of culture and lifestyle, rather than having a strict
Pojman’s objections to relativism center upon the existence of common human nature and experience, and that “…it is possible to communicate cross-culturally and find that we agree on many of the important things in life” (Pojman 181). This correlates to the idea of common moral concepts among different cultures and societies. In this common experience of “needs and interests” (Pojman 185), it stands to reason that certain moral practices will better serve needs and interests than others. This contrasts greatly with Benedict’s all cultures are equal proposal. Benedict makes a valid argument that people develop moral codes as a result of their culture. There is no right or wrong way to develop a society, the only tried and true method is trial
Morality is based on spiritual and personal beliefs and on accepted standards for the respect of others.
The first mistake is in his comparison following the example of there being different moral codes. In outlining and explaining the cultural differences argument, he gives an example that he began the article with regarding the Callatians and the Greeks, and their differences in funerary practices. Rachels asks that "from the mere fact that they disagreed, that there is no objective truth in the matter?" His answer is that "no," and that the answer one could derive is that one of those beliefs is altogether incorrect and wrong. Here Rachels' statement seems to negate that which he wants to negate but it is through manipulation of the parties involved and the adding of "facts' that aren't there. These two cultures in his example to not disagree about anything, there are simply two different ways they deal with death. Because they are different, doesn't necessarily imply there is any disagreement. So my answer is yes, this example does mean that there is no objective truth, because we cannot say that their practice (Greeks vs. the Callatians) is incorrect or immoral as much as they can say our practices are immoral. To label a culture's belief in certain practices as possibly being "mistaken," doesn't sound very openminded in any way at all.
In Ruth Benedict’s argument In Defense of Moral Relativism he argues that morals are relative to culture. Morals are a person’s standards of behavior or beliefs concerning what is and is not acceptable for them to do. Every person has morals, and what they deem to be morally right or wrong can vary. Benedict argues that morals change based on the culture that the person is in. Culture is the behavior, beliefs, and other characteristics that belong to a certain group or society. According to Benedict, each culture has their own set of morals, and each person in the group gains morals based on the morals of the group as a whole. The group creates a general “norm” for what is considered right or wrong. A subject that is deemed wrong in one culture
The cultural differences argument goes like this; 'Different cultures have different moral codes, thus there is no one correct set of moral claims, only those that conform to the major set of beliefs within the given culture'.
That morality is not relative, Rachel argues, “ Claims made by its proponents go beyond what the facts or arguments can establish”. She argues that we do not need morality because of culture differences and values based on where we are. Also talks about what can be learned from relativism and states that because of it morality is not needed and know what to do based on their moral codes.
Lets start by understanding that cultures are a melting pot of people’s beliefs, language, behaviors, values, material objects, and norms. Norms are written and non-written “expectations of behavior” that govern a certain location, place, or culture (26). These norms also vary from culture to culture meaning what is a norm in the U.S may not be a norm in India. For example, a norm in America would be tipping a waiter after a meal. Another would be acknowledging someone as you walk past him or her, typically done at work or in a public place. In all, norms are folkways, mores, taboos, and written laws that are an established standard of one’s behavior.
160). This simply means not all societies believe the same thing is “right” or “wrong” because each society has the ability to have a different moral code. However, with this being said, cultures do have some common values and for society to exist with as much peace as possible, there are some moral rules that societies must have in common. Without some common moral codes, the world would be out of control and as a result, there would be many problems between people. With societies having a mix of shared and unshared cultural moral codes, it is safe to assume that most societies have mixes of good moral practices and bad moral
Rachels says that “different cultures have different moral codes” and I believe that is true what might be okay in one culture could be absolutely immoral in another. His reference to what Daruis notice between the Greeks and the Callatians can show us that each culture has their own method of dealing with a situation. As well as the Eskimos who had multiple wife and use the method of infanticide. This being unheard of, immoral to the people of America but since the time of Herodotus they have notice “the idea that conceptions of right and wrong differ from culture to culture.” I think this concept is right however, I haven’t actually seen a culture as different as my, I have seen some small differences and I know some culture have big differences to mine but I haven’t encounter them. I...
Over her years of research, anthropologist Ruth Benedict has found countless evidence that proves ethics are relative, while philosopher W.T. Stace, argues against her stance and says that ethics are not relative but absolute. Benedict believes in moral or ethical relativism; ethical relativism is relative to culture at any particular age, region, and society. Then on the other hand, Stace believes in moral or ethical absolutism, which means there is only one eternally true and valid moral code for all human beings. He also goes on to say, “They are in themselves either right or wrong. What we have to do is to discover which they are.”(94.) Both sides feel very strongly about their views and have a lot to say to back up their ideas.
It is impossible to conceive of an arbiter to judge such a class of morality. Even though the example is strongly suggestive, that’s not the same as proving with certainty that there are sufficient grounds to say that it should be okay to consider any custom of another culture as inferior.
Moral practices are different in many cultures. There are cultural practices that you would expect to be immoral all over the world, but it is not. For example, I do not understand how anyone would feel it is normal to eat love ones who have died. In some cultures, this is normal behavior. It is normal for others to burn the dead. In my culture, we bury the dead. Because I feel it is inhuman for someone to eat their loves after they have died does not give me the right to tell them they are wrong and I am right. This is the means behind ethical relativism. T...