Here is the synopsis of our sample research paper on "Mortality is Not Relative": James Rachels' Views on the Theory of Cultural Relativism. Have the paper e-mailed to you 24/7/365.
Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 7 page exploration of Rachels beliefs in regard to what determines certain cultural practices and whether or not there are inherent rights and wrongs in those practices. More specifically, Rachels
explores the question of whether morality is a phenomena that varies according to culture, whether different cultures do in fact operate under
different moral codes. Rachels points out that many cultures even diverge greatly from our Western precepts of right and wrong. He is particularly interested in the theory of cultural relativism, that theory that demands that we view behavior and situations in a world context rather than from the closely defined views of one culture. Rachels sees both positives and negatives in that theory, however. No additional sources are listed.
Page Count:
7 pages (~225 words per page)
File: AM2_PPmoralR.rtf
Buy This Term Paper »
Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
of Alabama, explores the question of whether morality is a phenomena that varies according to culture, whether different cultures do in fact operate under different moral codes. Rachels points
out that many cultures even diverge greatly from our Western precepts of right and wrong. Specifically, Rachels explores the question of whether morality is a phenomena that varies according
to culture, whether different cultures do in fact operate under different moral codes. Rachels points out that many cultures even diverge greatly from our Western precepts of right and
wrong. He is particularly interested in the theory of cultural relativism, that theory that demands that we view behavior and situations in a world context rather than from the
closely defined views of one culture. Rachels sees both positives and negatives in that theory, however. Rachels presents many examples
that must be considered in an analysis of cultural relativism. The Eskimo, for example, were described by early explorers as having only a loose construct of marriage, a construct
which allowed wife sharing and granted divorce on an informal rather than formal basis. Many have looked at such cultural practices as backward and wrong. They are even
more critical of such practices as infanticide, a practice affecting female infants among the Eskimo even more frequently than male infants. Rachels is fully aware that many philosophers contend
that moral standards are culture-bound, that as such they can be viewed as being neither right nor wrong. Rachels does not accept that contention, however. He refutes such
arguments as being logically unsound. Rachels presents a number of examples to support his contention that morality is not relative. He points
...