ANTHRONOTES

ANTHRONOTES
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(June 07, 2012)
Anthronotes
Cultural Relativism and Universal Human Rights
Cultural relativism defines that each culture has its own way of life with unique values and practices and judgments should be withheld until the cultural context are taken involved in into place. Anthropologist should be observers and recorders not evaluators of peoples ‘custom and values`.
Anthropology as a discipline was not involved in international dialogues that produced rules regarding human rights due to constraints arising from cultural relativism. Thus anthropology`s voice was not included in drafting of human rights statements. Anthropologists have voiced against inhumane practices such as genocide, even testified in US courts against Government rule that impinge on human religious traditions. However there are other human right issues such as domestic abuse, female circumcision to culturally based forms homicide that anthropologists have remained silent.
Cultural relativism can only be taken to some extents. Since every culture has its own unique moral system I cannot judge ‘right` and ‘wrong` by comparing one culture to another. Thus I cannot reject any culturally acceptable homicide example ‘honor` killing of women in Mediterranean and Middle East societies for alleged sexual misconduct. Anthropologists did not defend Nazi ge...