Moral Relativism - Imposing Universal

Moral Relativism - Imposing Universal Ethical Behavior on Different Cultures

Proponents of moral relativism as an ethical theory believe that it is impossible to impose one universal standard of ethical behavior on all cultures. Instead, moral relativists point that different cultures can have varying standards of what is considered ethical behavior. For example, prior to being "discovered" by explorers in the early 20th century, many indigenous tribes (later referred to as "Eskimo") lived in isolation in Alaska, northern Canada, parts of Greenland and northeastern Siberia.

Explorers brought back tales of the practice of infanticide, where mothers routinely killed female babies with no repercussions. Older people were also often left in the snow to die.

Many people condemned these practices, branding the Eskimo as people with no regard for human life. However, a moral relativist would analyze these practices within the cultural and social context of Eskimo life. Life is much more difficult in the frozen north, so babies are killed at childbirth during lean times. Similarly, when a member of society becomes too feeble to contribute, leaving them in the snow is deemed the proper solution. Both practices are deemed proper, as they increase the survival chances of the tribe as a whole. Thus, while another society may cringe at the idea of infanticide and leaving the elderly to die, Eskimo societies see the survival of the tribe as the paramount concern.

There are many examples throughout history illustrating the difficulty of judging other cultures by one's own ethical yardstick. Thus, instead of being preoccupied with questions of whose society is superior, moral relativists believe that all actions should be judged within their cultural context. An action such as infanticide, no matter how abhorrent it may seem, may then be an ethical action in a society that values collective survival over the rights of one individual.