Two Types Of Cultural Relativism

Ethical relativism is can be defined as the belief that nothing is objectively right or wrong and that the definition of right or wrong depends on the prevailing view of a particular individual, culture, or historical period. There are two types of ethical relativism: cultural relativism as well as individual relativism. Cultural relativism is a concept that cultural norms and values derive their meaning within a specific social context. A lot of cultures do things a way which they were taught was always the right way and everything within that particular norm is viewed to be correct. In contrast, other cultures might see it differently. To them, it might seem wrong and even offensive which is actually relevant.

Every culture around the world has a distinct view on life. Because every culture around the world haves a distinct view on life, so we or just a culture that is different from another can’t force our opinions and beliefs onto them. In their world, what they are doing is the right thing even though we might think it is wrong or possibly inhumane. An example I have with something similar to this is with my friend’s religion. My friend is a Buddhist. In his religion, when someone in the family or someone they know dies, they stay away from the temple and in a way resent God for a moment. In Haiti, when something like that happens,

that’s when we feel we should be the closest to God. We pray more and go to church to help with the mourning process and seek comfort with God. Some cultures might disagree with my friend’s religion because to them that’s when they’d need God the most. To him, that’s what’s morally correct and that what he learned from his culture so he can’t dismiss because that’s what’s right culturally.
Individual relativism is what one feel is right no matter the cultural aspect. If I have a strong view on killing animals daily and I feel like it’s the right thing to do, then it is my aspect of it. If someone else feels like killing animals is wrong and I shall not engage myself in such act, that’s their view of it. Both of us are right because that’s how we view it and having someone contradict that won’t affect how we feel about it. Most people have a perspective on a certain subject for a particular reason. Childhood memories could be the reason why they chose to feel a certain way. They shouldn’t be judged because of how they look at things. American culture could seem normal to someone who’s been living in America for a long time, whereas someone from Norway would feel like it’s the weirdest culture on earth.
We cannot say whether culture is improving or getting worse, but we can say that each culture has different types of norms that are really normal to them. In America, when people start aging, most families place them in nursing homes to receive proper care. In Haiti however, the elderly actually takes care of the family. They feel that leaving them at home and enjoying time with everybody is going to actually help them stay alive. The elderly doesn’t just sit around. They have to cook, clean, takes care of the youth, etc. To American cultures, that may seems as the family isn’t showing love, but in retrospect, that’s the way they show their love in compassion.
Everyone has their beliefs on what’s right and what’s not.

Following your culture’s norms is always good because that’s what you were raised with. At a certain point if you feel like something is not right, you can always try to question it. Ethical relativism can’t be compared because everyone weren’t raised by the same morals and trying to get someone else to understand and follow your morals may not be the easiest thing to do. Our morals are what make us who we are. They’re used as our guides on what is right to do and what we should avoid. We shouldn’t try to compare them with other cultures because they might lose their

values.