Philosophy 160
Introduction to Ethics

Handout 3 - Cultural Relativism

"Man is the measure of all things."
                                                   - Protagoras (480-411 BCE.)

"‘Immoral’ never means anything but contrary to the mores of the time and place."
                                                   - W.G. Sumner, Folkways (1907)

CR:  an act is morally right if and only if it is permitted by the moral code of the society of the agent of the act.

a society is a collection of people, living in proximity to each other, sharing a language, religion, cuisine, and culture.

the moral code of a society is the set of moral rules that are accepted by the members of the society.

The Cultural Differences Argument

1. Different societies have different beliefs about right and wrong.
2. Therefore, what is right in one society might not be right in another society.

(click here for the Explanation and Evaluation of this argument)

The Reformer's Dilemma

1. If CR is true, then every moral reformer is mistaken
2. Not every moral reformer is mistaken.
3. Therefore, CR is not true.

(click here for the Explanation and Evaluation of this argument)