Cultural Relativism and Heroism

            Since the beginning of human history, the cultures of other groups has been infinitely fascinating and mysterious, and at times confusing or even horrifying. Some people, having come into contact with the unknown, differing elements of a foreign culture are quick to judge and scorn, while others with a more open mind see these differences as just that: different ways of behaving that should not be judged as either “right” or “wrong”. The latter viewpoint reflects the tenants of Cultural Relativism, which is the beliefs that different societies will naturally hold to different moral codes and that there is “no objective standard that can be used to judge one societal code better than another”(“The Challenge of Cultural Relativism”, Page 53). The article presents the argument that while Cultural Relativism does maintain important and valid points of consideration, it also contains fallacies in its beliefs that there can be no definitive moral truth and in the exaggeration of actual differences between many cultures.

            In the literature we have read so far in our Nature of the Hero and Villain unit, we have been introduced to many cultures’ idea of a heroic character. As you can imagine, each culture’s definition of a hero is different due to the varying morals held by that society. For example, the epic hero of Beowulf is a true embodiment of the Geat’s beliefs regarding heroism; he is physically unstoppable, stoic and void of fear, and strives to bring infamy to his name. While he perfectly fits the bill of a hero in terms of his own cultural programming, the society in which we find Hamlet would see Beowulf as a sort of impolite brute. Hamlet’s brand of heroism is found in his respect for the individual man and his thoughtful investigation of his uncle before determining that he did indeed murder Hamlet’s father. While Beowulf and his fellow Geat’s would see Hamlet’s reflection a procrastination and waste of precious time, Hamlet and the Danish would see Beowulf’s style of immediate action as brash and uncalculated. When we discussed in class our personal definitions of a hero, few of us included the traits that are found in either Hamlet or Beowulf, but even though our culture differs from theirs we as students can still see the validity in their heroism.

            When it comes to cultural relativism gone wrong, I think of the laws that have recently been passed in France that have outlawed facial coverings, including those of Muslim women who practice hijab (modesty) through the wearing of the niqab headdress. France is a secular nation, and therefore their cultural standard of “right” would see this law as an aid in maintaining a secular environment in schools and in public spaces. For the Muslim women who willingly don the niqab, this is a violation of their cultural and religious standard of “right”, which includes a standard of modest dress that is very important to their faith. These laws are an example of the dominate culture of an area forsaking the idea of a lack of moral right or wrong that is found in cultural relativism and choosing to deem another culture’s way of life immoral and unethetical.

            Personally, I can see the validity of the criticism that James Rachels provides in this article, especially that of cultural relativism providing a protection of cultures taking part in cruel practices such as slavery or anti-Semitism from criticism. However, I also agree with Rachels that cultural relativism does teach important lessons in not solely believing that our home culture is the only one that is morally sound in its ways. In the end, it appears that humans operate with many of the same common goals, and have found many different ways of accomplishing these goals based on what that culture has to offer. As long as you aren’t eating my dead father, I can’t really complain.