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Introduction to Ethics: Cultural Relativism

Introduction to Ethics

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Cultural Relativism

 

Cultural relativism is understanding another culture through their lens, not ours. Viewing other cultures through only our lens can promote ethnocentrism, a belief that our culture is more important than theirs.

Ethnocentrism blocks positive cultural connections and suggests other cultures should just act more like us in doing things the “right” way. This can be used as an excuse for imperialistic and violent colonization of other cultures. Decolonialization is a critical topic when discussing cultural relativism.

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Read more from the author of How To Read Donald Duck about how pop culture was used to promote ethnocentric ideas within Chile.