Question

In Tokmenko, she brings up the issue with cultural relativism that, because we are raised to accept our cultural norms, it is unclear why anyone would ever go against cultural moral norms. What is her response to this contention? Group of answer choices Cultural norms can be internally inconsistent, and this could lead to conflict between people who favor one part of the morality over another There could be a general morality beneath all cultural ethics, which could conflict with the culturally specific version of this general morality We are parts of multiple cultures, and these can come into contention

Answer 1

Tokmenko suggests that internal inconsistencies within cultural norms, a universal set of moral principles, and membership in multiple cultures can explain why individuals sometimes challenge cultural moral norms, despite the Theory of Normative Ethical Relativism asserting the correctness of predominant cultural views.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to Tokmenko, she addresses the issue of cultural relativism and the adherence to cultural moral norms with several possible responses. One possibility is that cultural norms can be internally inconsistent, leading to conflict among those who align with different aspects of cultural morality. Another response is the existence of a general morality that underlies all cultural ethics, potentially clashing with culture-specific moralities. Moreover, individuals are often part of multiple cultures, which can lead to conflicts when their cultural aspects are in contradiction.

The Theory of Normative Ethical Relativism suggests that each culture's predominant ethical views are correct solely because they are predominant, and there can be no criticism from any minority perspective within that culture. However, this theory struggles to explain instances where minorities challenge the majority's views and drive moral reform. Additionally, despite the cultural variations, it appears there are acts universally regarded as morally wrong, indicating a set of fundamental ethical principles common to all cultures.

The theory's failure to accommodate moral criticisms or reforms exemplifies its limitations and the ongoing search for a third alternative, beyond moral absolutism and cultural relativism—a quest that has occupied philosophers since the era of Socrates. Despite the theory's popularity, due to the observable differences in moral standards across cultures, it is clear that normative ethical relativism faces significant challenges.