Anthropology: Cultural Relativity - Term Paper Example

Running head: ANTROPOLOGY Anthropology: Cultural Relativity Today cross-cultural relations are one of the most widely-discussed topics. Withthe development of civilization these relations became fundamental for every society as much depends on them. The given paper will discuss the cultural relativity in anthropology, provide its definition and explains strong points and limitations. Anthropology: Cultural Relativity The definition of cultural relativity In anthropology cultural relativity represents a main practical theory generally applied within the subject.

This definition is founded on hypothetical thoughts, essential to understanding of methodical anthropology. It is an anthropological method stating that all cultures of the world are equally important and worth-researching. The investigation of any culture must be implemented carefully and without any preferences in order to define the most important peculiarities of each of them. Traditionally, cultural relativity used double hypothetical method called historical particularism. The term implies that any culture must be studied deeply.

This inference is very important not only for anthropology but also for other sciences (Zechenter, 1997). The strong point of the method. Example The strong point of cultural relativity is that it lets people stick to their ethical principles without being judged by other communities, which have other principles. If people deny this method, they will appear in difficult situation: if they have constant unchanging moral rules, they criticize the communities with other values and maybe even try to make them adapt the moral rules of other community.

That will make cross-cultural relations difficult (Zechenter, 1997). Cultural relativity provides the opportunity to avoid this complexity. According to it, the ethical code of one group of people can be applicable only to their community, that’s why the communities can’t impose their moral standards upon each other. Really, every society has its own values which should be respected by peoples from other cultures (Flew, 1968). When a person comes to another country, he should respect the moral principles existing in this society, but it does not mean that he must adopt them.

Every culture has its ethical values which are worth-studying and must be respected by other cultures in certain times (Zechenter, 1997). For example, for our society equal opportunities at work are an ethical requirement, however it is improper in other countries. In the times when patience is considered to be the most essential this can be called a good arrangement (Zechenter, 1997). The limitation of cultural relativism. Example Nevertheless, the abovementioned point of cultural relativity represents also its limitation.

 Cultural relativity does not let us judge the ethical principles of other societies in order to prevent difficulties in cross-cultural relations. However, it does not allow to criticize other cultures even in case if it is really necessary. There are some moral values that are inviolable in our times and must be followed by any society of the modern world. For example, a culture that considers slavery to be ethically tolerable should be treated as inferior in the times times, because slavery is not culturally relative.

Consequently, cultural relativity can’t be applicable here (Flew, 1968). Similarly, a society, where racial cleansing is admissible, should be considered repulsive as racial cleansing also can’t be considered to be culturally relative phenomenon. Works Cited Zechenter, E. M. (1997). Cultural Relativism and the Abuse of the Individual. .Journal of Anthropological Research, 53:323. Flew, Anthony. (1968). Evolutionary Ethics. New York: St. Martins Press, 55.