Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Cultural relativism is descriptively true but normatively false What does this mean?

If the term "normative" is to be seen as "prescriptive" or
something having to do with a sense of the practical, then there is much in way of truth
in the statement.  The idea of cultural relativism means that all cultures are
considered relative, and individuals cannot pas or make judgments upon them. 
Descriptively or abstractly, this sounds wonderful.  The crimes in the past that have
been made in valuing one culture over another have been horrific, so to establish a
position whereby all cultures are the same and no one can pass judgments is something
that sounds extremely laudable.  Yet, the practical application of this philosophy is
both impossible and not desirable.  On one level, the philosophy is normatively false on
a theoretical level because in saying that judgments should not be made, and then
asserting that all cultures are equally relevant and relative, one has made a judgment. 
In making the culture of Hitler and the culture of Mother Teresa the same, one has made
a judgment.  Hence, the idea of not making a judgment to say that all cultures are the
same is actually making a judgment.  On a practical level, it is nearly impossible to
presume that all cultures are a reflection of individual tastes and presuppositions and
then ask individuals to assume a position of transcendence to not pass judgments.  The
fact of the matter is that there are cultural elements that must be criticized and
towards which dissent must be spoken.  The culture that embraces human trafficking or
the abuse of women is something that has to be criticized.  The globalized nature of the
world has created some distinct cultural practices as being considered unacceptable.  In
this, cultural relativism is seen as normatively false from a practical point of
view.

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