ETHICS 1

• Cultural Relativism is the view that moral or ethical systems, which vary from culture to culture, are all equally valid and no one system is really “better ” than any other. This is based on the idea that there is no ultimate standard of good or evil, so every judgment about right and wrong is a product of society.
• Absolute Cultural Relativism is a belief that outsiders must and should not question everything that happens within a culture. This implies that all cultural practices, no matter what the differences are, are ALL valid and should be recognized.
• Critical Cultural Relativism questions cultural practices regarding who is accepting them and why, as well as recognizing power relationships. This means that one can question another’s cultural practices which include behavior, perspective, actions, and traditions, as well as to why that practice grew or how it was being recognized within the social genus.
• 1. It is a system that promotes cooperation. For the most part, humanity is strong because of the differences we all have. Every individual has a different perspective based on their upbringing, experiences, and personal thoughts.
• 2. It creates a society where equality is possible. In any society, people rise by climbing on top of other people. It is a socially acceptable way of creating discrimination.
• 3. People can pursue a genuine interest. In modern society, people are funneled toward certain career options because of their circumstances.
• 4. Respect is encouraged in a system of cultural relativism. People come from different cultures. They have different ideas. They pursue different definitions of success.
• 5. It preserves human cultures. Humanity is a very diverse set of thoughts, traditions, ideas, and practices. Many times, the traditions of humanity are set aside so that a group set of standards can be appeased.
• 1. It creates a system that is fueled by personal bias. Every society has a certain natural bias to it because of how humanity operates. People tend to prefer to be with others who have similar thoughts and feelings, so they segregate themselves into neighborhoods, communities, and social groups that share specific perspectives.
• 2. It would create chaos. People who can follow their own moral code because there is no “wrong” or “right” would be allowed to pursue any life they prefer under the theory of cultural relativism. If you’re upset with your neighbor, then you can kill that person without consequence if your moral code allows for murder.
• 3. It is an idea that is based on the perfection of humanity. Many people strive to do good every day. Most want to see everyone have the chance to pursue happiness in some way. That is why the idea of cultural relativism often seems to be inviting. The only problem is that people are not perfect
• 4. It could promote a lack of diversity. Cultural relativism promotes an individualistic point of view, so although it seems to promote diversity, it actually removes it from society.
• 5. It draws people away from one another. Although cultural relativism can promote people coming together to share their strengths, it can also encourage people to draw apart from one another.
• Cultural perspective is the influence that a culture and society has on a person ' s worldview and perspective.
• Key Points About the Importance of Understanding Different Cultures are: Enhanced Relationship, Compassion and Inclusion, and Challenging Norms.
• Enhanced Relationship - Cultural awareness fosters better relationships.
• Compassion and Inclusion - Cultural understanding encourages empathy and compassion.
• Challenging Norms - Cultural differences prompt us to question what we consider “normal".
• Culture is defined as Integrated pattern of human knowlegde, beliefs and behaviors. Culture has different elements: Language, Ideas, Customs, Morals, Law, etc. It emphasizes the significance of culture in shaping human behavior and societal norms.
• Perspective on Culture: Church's View, Sociological Perspective, Transmission, Birth into Cultures, Dominant Cultures, and Cultural Diversity.
• Enculturation is the process of learning a culture in all its uniqueness and particularity.
• Enculturation helps learning one’s culture to avoid taboos. This also helps to familiarize to own culture and conform to its expectations. It occurs through observation and social interaction. It is considered as a requirement for surviving and being an accepted member of society.
• Types of Enculturation are: Formal, Informal, Conscious, and Unconscious.
• Inculturation refers to the “missiological" process in which the Gospel is rooted in a particular culture and the latter is transformed by its introduction to Christianity.
• Acculturation is another big term. It is the “ cultural modification of an individual, group, or people by adapting to or borrowing traits from another culture ”. It is also explained as the merging of cultures as a result of prolonged contact.”
• Attribute Facets of Personal Behavior to Culture: Norms and Value, Socialization, Language and Communication Styles, Beliefs and Worldviews, and Traditions and Rituals.
• 1. Norms and Values - Culture teaches us what' s okay and what' s not. It tells us how to act in different social settings based on what' s considered normal or important in our society.
• 2. Socialization - From childhood, individuals are socialized into their culture ' s norms and behaviors. This socialization process ingrains cultural expectations, influencing personal behavior throughout life.
• 3. Language and Communication Styles - Culture shapes how we talk and interact with each other. It affects things like our body language, the way we speak, and even the tone we use.
• 4. Beliefs and Worldviews - What we believe in and how we see the world are shaped by our culture. This includes our ideas about family, religion, and gender roles. These beliefs affect how we think and behave in everyday life.
• 5. Traditions and Rituals - Cultural traditions and rituals often dictate specific behaviors and actions in various contexts, such as ceremonies, holidays, and rites of passage.
• Culture affects human behavior. Not all cultural practices are morally acceptable.
• Culture plays a significant role in shaping the moral agent, influencing their values, beliefs, and behavior.