Universal or Relative?

Question 1

When was the UN established?

Answer 1

In 1945, following WW2

Question 2

When was the UN declaration of Human Rights?

Answer 2

1948

Question 3

What does the UN declaration of Human Rights say all humans are?

Answer 3

Born free and equal in rights

Question 4

Does the universal declaration hold in a court of law?

Answer 4

No, only an ideal adopted by certain states into their constitution

Question 5

What does it mean for rights to be universal?

Answer 5

Hold the same human rights regardless of wherever you go

Question 6

What does universality fail to recognise?

Answer 6

The diversity of views in the world

Question 7

What does a common set of human rights allow for?

Answer 7

A standard by which all can be judged

Question 8

What is an issue with understanding of human rights?

Answer 8

Different countries have different understandings of them

Question 9

What makes ‘universal’ human rights difficult to achieve?

Answer 9

Socio-cultural diversity

Question 10

What do universalists believe about human rights?

Answer 10

They should be held irrespective of social identity, nationality, residence and these rights should remain unchanged

Question 11

What do universalists believe rights are in respect to society?

Answer 11

Abstract from society

Question 12

What do cultural relativists argue about the world?

Answer 12

There are vast differences in culture which make universal human rights hard to achieve

Question 13

It is hard to decide whether a practice violates rights without…

Answer 13

Reference to our own socio-cultural norms and values

Question 14

What does FGM stand for?

Answer 14

Female genital circumcision

Question 15

FGM for cultures outside the west

Answer 15

Natural procedure, can be perceived as a symbol of virginity which ensures that they will be married

Question 16

FGM to western cultures

Answer 16

A breach of human rights as young girls have no choice

Question 17

What is the issue with condoning a practice outside your own culture?

Answer 17

We don’t have any basis in criticising practices of other cultures for violating human rights as our perception of human rights is based on what the west consider to be right

Question 18

Practices may seem abusive in our society but…

Answer 18

Normal in another culture

Question 19

What does the argument that human rights are universal fail to represent?

Answer 19

The diversity of cultures and views in the world

Question 20

What do some argue universalist arguments amount to?

Answer 20

Cultural imperialism

Question 21

Ethnocentrisms

Answer 21

Believing your culture is superior

Question 22

What do cultural relativists argue?

Answer 22

There is a danger in failing to recognise the variance of ideas about rights and wrongs in the world

Question 23

What could a failure to recognise cultural differences result in?

Answer 23

Human wrongs being committed

Question 24

What do universalists argue could happen without a common set of human rights?

Answer 24

Without legitimate moral force and understanding there could be violations such as genocides

Question 25

What should human rights be instead of imposed?

Answer 25

Discussed