Chapter 2

Question 1

According to Ruth Benedict, morality differs…

Answer 1

in every society, and is an convenient name for socially approved habits

Question 2

According to Rachels cultural relativism is the view that

Answer 2

different cultures have different moral codes.

Question 3

According to Rachels for cultural relativists the idea of universal truth in ethics

Answer 3

is a myth/incorrect

Question 4

According to cultural relativists (customs)

Answer 4

the customs of different societies are all that exist.

Question 5

Cultural relativism challenges…

Answer 5

challenges our beliefs in objectivity and universal truth.

Question 6

According to Cultural relativism (universal truths)

Answer 6

there is no such thing as universal truth in ethics, there are only various cultural codes, and nothing more.

Question 7

For many the key to understanding morality is this observation different cultures ___________

Answer 7

different cultures have different moral codes.

Question 8

Which of the following claims have been made by cultural relativists?

Answer 8

1) different societies have different moral codes.

2) The moral code of a society determines what is right within that society.

Question 9

Which claims have been made by cultural relativists? (4)

Answer 9

1) There is no objective standard that can be used to judge one society’s code as better than another’s.
2) The moral code of our own society has no special status.
3) It is arrogant for us to judge other cultures.
4) We should be tolerant of other cultures.

Question 10

The cultural differences argument is the view that ____ it tries to

Answer 10

1) right and wrong are matters of opinion and opinions and vary from culture to culture.
2) tries to draw a substantive conclusion from the mere fact that people disagree.

Question 11

Properly speaking cultural relativism holds that the norms of a culture

Answer 11

reign supreme within that culture.

Question 12

Cultural relativists often employ a certain form of argument, beginning with

Answer 12

they begin with facts about cultures and end up drawing a conclusion about morality.

Question 13

The cultural differences argument tries to (b/c ppl disagree)

Answer 13

derive a substantive conclusion about a subject from the mere fact that people disagree.

Question 14

The cultural differences argument is invalid because

Answer 14

the truth of its conclusion does not follow from the premise.

Question 15

From the mere fact that cultures disagree

Answer 15

it does not follow that there is no objective truth on the matter.

Question 16

If Cultural relativism is true,

Answer 16

1) we can no longer say that the customs of other societies are morally inferior to our own.
2) we could no longer criticize the code of our own society.
3) the idea of moral progress is called into doubt.

Question 17

According to Rachel’s often when we examine what seem to be big differences between cultures we find that

Answer 17

cultures differ less than we thought.

Question 18

Often when we examine what seem to be big differences between cultures we find that

Answer 18

some values seem to be shared by all cultures.

Question 19

Which of the following values does Rachel’s suggest may be shared by all cultures? (3)

Answer 19

1. children have to protected.
2. societies values not lying.
3. societies prohibit murder.

Question 20

According to Rachel’s there are some moral rules that all societies must embrace

Answer 20

because those rules are necessary for society to exist.

Question 21

One difficulty with Cultural relativism, is that if it’s correct

Answer 21

if cultural relativism is correct, there is no culture-dependent moral standard to appeal to.

Question 22

According to Rachel’s one standard that can be used in thinking about any social practice is,

Answer 22

does the practice promote or hinder the welfare of the people affected by the practice

Question 23

For what reason(s)are people reluctant to criticize other cultures? (3)

Answer 23

a. there is a nervousness about interfering in the social customs of other people.
b. many feel they should be tolerant of other cultures.
c. people don’t want to judge because they do not want to express contempt for the society being criticized.

Question 24

According to Rachel’s what can be learned from cultural relativism?

Answer 24

it warns us of the danger of assuming that all of our standards are based on some absolute standard.

Question 25

According to Rachel’s what can be learned from cultural relativism?

Answer 25

there are many things we think of in terms of right and wrong that are nothing more than social conventions.

Question 26

According to Rachel’s there is an appeal of cultural relativism because it is based upon a genuine insight

Answer 26

that warns us of the danger of assuming that all of our standards are based on some absolute standard.