0
Why is it important to know the difference between ethnocentrism and cultural relativism?
Wiki User
∙ 8y ago
Answer 1
Cultural relativism is the opposite of ethnocentrism; which states that no culture should be judged based on the standards of another.
Answer 2
Cultural Relativism: The belief that the value systems of different cultures cannot be measured by the value systems of a different culture.
Ethnocentrism: The belief that one ethnic group or nation (usually the one of the speaker) is superior to others and that its values and actions are superior.
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoThe two philosophies are actually quite different.
Ethnocentrism: The belief that one ethnic group or nation (usually the one of the speaker) is superior to others and that its values and actions are superior. -- Example: The British believed when they were conquering their empire in Africa and Asia that their religion, political views, and understanding of the world were inherently superior to the peoples they conquered.
Cultural Relativism: The belief that the value systems of different cultures cannot be measured by the value systems of a different culture. -- Example: If one culture presses criminal charges against a rapist for committing a rape and another culture presses charges against the rape victim for allowing herself to be raped, these are both acceptable value systems that come from different cultures.
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoAnswer 1
Cultural relativism is understanding other cultures and their beliefs. For example what seems normal to one culture may seem offensive to another. ex: like china eats dogs and in America keeps them as pets. Ethnocentrism is the belief that your country is the best and your culture is the best and your right and other cultures are wrong.
Answer 2
Ethnocentrism: Evaluating other people from one's own vantage-point and describing them in one's own terms.
Cultural Relativism: Partially the opposite to Ethnocentrism. It asks one to evaluate a culture from the aspect of people of that culture.
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoIt is important to know the difference because they are fundamentally different philosophies. The former stresses that the values, culture, and genetics of one society are superior to all others while the other is the view that all cultures and values cannot be judged relative to each other. If a person is ethnocentrist, they cannot be a cultural relativist except between cultures that are not part of the "superior culture". If a person is a true cultural relativist, they cannot prize any aspect of their own society and cannot, therefore, be an ethnocentrist.
Of course, both positions are ridiculous. While it is improper to weight different ethnic groups against one another, there are certain values and behaviors that we can demonstrate to be superior to other values and behaviors, through the various indicia of well-being. Sacrificing humans is clearly an inferior behavior and educating humans is clearly a superior behavior based on this simple evaluation.
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoThe two philosophies are extremely different, the only thing that they share is that they purport to answer the question: "Which culture is superior?", even though they both have different answers to this question.
Ethnocentrism: The belief that one ethnic group or nation (usually the one of the speaker) is superior to others and that its values and actions are superior. -- Example: The British believed when they were conquering their empire in Africa and Asia that their religion, political views, and understanding of the world were inherently superior to the peoples they conquered.
Cultural Relativism: The belief that the value systems of different cultures cannot be measured by the value systems of a different culture. -- Example: If one culture presses criminal charges against a rapist for committing a rape and another culture presses charges against the rape victim for allowing herself to be raped, these are both acceptable value systems that come from different cultures.
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoCultural Relativism is the moral philosophy. Multiculturalism is its political enactment.
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What are causes of cultural relativism and ethnocentrism?
learning languages
What is an example of a sentence using the word Ethnocentrism?
Cultural relativism was in part a response to western ethnocentrism
How do cultural relativism and ethnocentrism affect an individual's communication?
Cultural relativism encourages understanding and respecting diverse cultural perspectives, promoting open-minded communication. On the other hand, ethnocentrism involves judging other cultures based on one's own cultural standards, which can lead to misunderstandings and conflict in communication. Being aware of these perspectives can help individuals navigate cross-cultural interactions effectively.
Sociologists agree that it is important you always practice cultural relativism in viewing other cultural practices true or false?
True. Sociologists often advocate for practicing cultural relativism, which involves understanding and judging other cultures based on their own values, norms, and customs rather than imposing one's own cultural beliefs. It helps to promote understanding and respect for cultural diversity and facilitates more effective cross-cultural interactions.
A person who criticizes the Amish farmer as foolish or backward for tilling his fields using horses and a plow instead of a tractor is exhibiting?
Ethnocentrism - The practice of judging another culture by the standards of one's own culture. (Easy to confuse between Cultural relativism, but this question is not referring to cultural relativism, so its tricky)
Who started cultural relativism?
Cultural relativism as an idea has a long history, but it was popularized by anthropologist Franz Boas in the early 20th century. Boas emphasized the importance of understanding and respecting different cultures on their own terms, rather than judging them through the lens of one's own culture.
When is cultural relativism vulgar and how do anthropologists avoid this vulgar cultural relativism?
Cultural relativism becomes vulgar when it is used to justify harmful practices or oppress certain groups, ignoring basic human rights. Anthropologists avoid this by maintaining a critical stance towards cultural practices, taking into account broader social contexts and power dynamics. They seek to understand the complexities of different cultural beliefs and practices without condoning unethical behaviors.
What has the author Giuseppe Mantovani written?
Giuseppe Mantovani has written: 'New communication environments' -- subject(s): Telematics 'Exploring borders' -- subject(s): Ethnopsychology, Culture, Ethnocentrism, Cultural relativism
What is a major flaw in cultural relativism?
"The major flaw in cultural relativism is that the concept of relativism is wrong. We are now witnessing "cultural relativism" throughout the world with particular emphasis on terrorism: their cultural relativism is the world's capitulation or death with no other choices. " Above a typical Enlightened Absolutist opininion (no offense). Using the word 'wrong' in absolute way. And pointing at unfavourable views as 'terrorism'. An enlightening example of what is not cultural relativism
What is marketing relativism?
Marketing relativism is a subtle and unintended result of cultural conditioning.
What are some different between ethnocentrism and cultural relativism and human right?
They both make judgments based on an individual's perception.
What is the importance of ethnocentrism to cultural anthropology?
Ethnocentrism is important in cultural anthropology because it helps researchers understand how individuals view and interpret the world through their own cultural lens. By recognizing ethnocentrism, anthropologists can better appreciate the diversity of cultural beliefs and practices, and avoid imposing their own cultural biases when studying different societies. It also highlights the need for cultural relativism, which is essential in understanding the uniqueness and complexity of various cultures.
