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Socrates points out, not all views can be true someone must be wrong! We can't criticise other cultures that carry out practice we consider wrong. "Good" just means "prefers" but "I don't like cheese" is not the same thing as "murder is wrong". "Act relative to your culture, situational and personal circumstances" is an absolute!

How does Socrates' observation that not all views can be true relate to the challenges of cultural relativism in moral judgments?

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Final answer:

Socrates' observation challenges the idea of normative ethical relativism and highlights the need for a basis in reason and universal principles in moral judgments. It questions the claim that all views are equally true and calls for the recognition of certain universal ethical principles.

Step-by-step explanation:

Socrates' observation that not all views can be true relates to the challenges of cultural relativism in moral judgments by highlighting the inherent contradiction in the theory of normative ethical relativism. The theory claims that each culture's predominant view is correct because it is the majority view, and there are no universal moral principles. However, Socrates argues that if all views were true, then there would be no way to distinguish between right and wrong. Furthermore, Socrates suggests that people who do wrong acts mistakenly perceive them as good acts. This contradicts the relativist claim that each society makes its own rules without universal standards.

The insights from Socrates help us understand the challenges of cultural relativism in moral judgments. If we accept the theory of normative ethical relativism, we would have difficulty criticizing other cultures for practices we consider wrong, such as female infanticide or genital mutilation. However, it is evident that there are certain acts that most people regard as morally wrong, regardless of cultural differences. For example, despite variations among societies, there is a common principle that unjustified killing is morally wrong. Therefore, Socrates' observation highlights the need for a basis in reason and universal principles to guide moral judgments.

In conclusion, Socrates' observation that not all views can be true challenges the idea of normative ethical relativism and its implications for cultural relativism in moral judgments. It emphasizes the need for a foundation in reason and the recognition of certain universal ethical principles that can guide ethical decision-making in spite of cultural differences.

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