Which view claims that moral standards are determined by one's culture and vary across cultures?

Prepare for the Matlock Bioethics Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions; each question provides hints and explanations. Get ready to ace your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which view claims that moral standards are determined by one's culture and vary across cultures?

Explanation:
The idea being tested is cultural relativism in morality: the claim that moral standards come from a culture’s norms and can vary from one culture to another. This view holds that what counts as right or wrong is shaped by the beliefs, practices, and social rules of a specific culture, so there isn’t a single universal standard. It explains why different societies develop different moral codes and why judgments about others’ practices should be understood within their cultural context. This differs from subjective relativism, which makes morality a matter of each person’s own preferences, and from moral objectivism, which posits universal moral truths independent of culture. It isn’t about a general notion of justice, but about where morality derives from. The statement in the question aligns exactly with cultural relativism.

The idea being tested is cultural relativism in morality: the claim that moral standards come from a culture’s norms and can vary from one culture to another. This view holds that what counts as right or wrong is shaped by the beliefs, practices, and social rules of a specific culture, so there isn’t a single universal standard. It explains why different societies develop different moral codes and why judgments about others’ practices should be understood within their cultural context.

This differs from subjective relativism, which makes morality a matter of each person’s own preferences, and from moral objectivism, which posits universal moral truths independent of culture. It isn’t about a general notion of justice, but about where morality derives from. The statement in the question aligns exactly with cultural relativism.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Passetra

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy