Silliness and Cultural Relativism
I have a problem with Cultural Relativism. Although this theory has indeed served the purpose of contradicting justifications within the academia for the dominion of some supposedly more advanced cultures over other “primitive” ones, it is simply not sensible to accept it as a correct and adequate basis for understanding societies. Here is why:An idea cannot be self-contradictory and remain true. Cultural Relativism brings forth the idea that no culture can be better than another - something that at first sounds nice, warm, and politically correct. This is a perspective that is supposed to give us and egalitarian view of the world. Nevertheless, if no culture or society can ever be better than another, this in fact means that efforts towards social change actually gain nothing, even if effective, as the new order attained is supposed to be just as good (or bad) as any other. Such a view in fact destroys the idea of progress; the notion that positive change can be promoted and achieved. However, since it can be supposed that Cultural Relativism arises as a new way of looking at society, it is in fact aiming at change, and if this theory thinks of itself as meaningful at all, then it can be said that it aims at positive change - it seeks to be a tool for humanity to better its understanding of the world. In other words, it seeks progress. Unfortunately, as this theory destroys the idea of progress in the way that has already been explained, it renders itself useless and unable to attain what it originally should have. Indeed, this theory self-destructs, as in denying the idea of progress it implies that its own existence is indifferent, as nothing “better” can be attained through it. Furthermore, as it both upholds the idea of progress (through its mere existence) and at same time destroys this idea through its content, it is undeniably self-contradictory. Cultural Relativism can thus hardly be a coherent way of looking at the world and the differences between human societies.
Some people think that Cultural Relativism is useful given that it is difficult to reach a consensus about which societal views are superior to others, but such a position cannot be anything less than sheer dishonesty. If an idea is not true, it should very simply not be accepted. Rather, let Cultural Relativism die a pitiless death, and allow civil debate about the various merits of our different civilizations to enrich us all. That would be true progress.
posted by ertandberni @ 7:13 PM
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