136k views
2 votes
Today in anthropology, cultural relativism is not a moral position, but a methodological one. It states: to understand another culture fully, you must try to see how people in that culture see things. This approach does not preclude making moral judgments or taking action.

(A) True
(B) False

1 Answer

6 votes

Final answer:

The statement regarding cultural relativism being methodological rather than moral and not preventing moral judgments or actions is true. Cultural relativism is a key anthropological approach for understanding other cultures in context, facilitating informed judgments and actions thereafter.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement 'Today in anthropology, cultural relativism is not a moral position, but a methodological one. It states: that to understand another culture fully, you must try to see how people in that culture see things. This approach does not preclude making moral judgments or taking action.' is true. Cultural relativism is a critical method in anthropology for gaining comprehensive insight into another culture's perspective. It enjoins anthropologists to temporarily suspend their own beliefs and judgments to better understand the context, rationale, and practices of the cultures they study. However, this does not mean that anthropologists accept all cultural practices as ethically sound. Rather, after a thorough understanding has been achieved, they can make informed moral judgments and take action when necessary.

A good understanding of cultural relativism involves recognizing that each belief or practice within a culture should be seen in relation to other elements within that culture and acknowledging the broader contexts that give rise to cultural practices. This holistic analysis is not an 'anything goes' approach and does not inhibit criticism of practices like female genital cutting which pose harm or inflict suffering. By engaging with cultural relativism, anthropologists can see beyond their personal values and ethnocentric perspectives, adapting a mindset that is open to listening and understanding before passing judgment or taking action.

User Berezh
by
9.2k points