Cultural Relativism and Cultural Universalism

Description: Cultural Relativism and Cultural Universalism Quiz
Number of Questions: 15
Created by:
Tags: cultural relativism cultural universalism culture anthropology
Attempted 0/15 Correct 0 Score 0

What is the central idea of cultural relativism?

  1. Different cultures have different values and beliefs that should be respected.

  2. There is one universal set of values and beliefs that all cultures should adopt.

  3. Cultures can be ranked based on their level of development.

  4. Cultural practices should be judged based on their own context.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Cultural relativism emphasizes that cultural practices and beliefs should be understood and evaluated within their own cultural context, rather than being judged by the standards of another culture.

Which of the following is an example of cultural relativism?

  1. Believing that polygamy is acceptable in some cultures but not in others.

  2. Judging the eating habits of another culture as strange or unappetizing.

  3. Assuming that one's own culture is superior to all others.

  4. Expecting people from different cultures to conform to the same moral code.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Cultural relativism recognizes that different cultures may have different moral codes and practices, and that these should be respected and understood within their own cultural context.

What is the main criticism of cultural relativism?

  1. It is too lenient and allows for harmful cultural practices to continue.

  2. It is too rigid and does not allow for cultural change and adaptation.

  3. It is based on the assumption that all cultures are equal.

  4. It ignores the fact that some cultural practices are universally harmful.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Critics of cultural relativism argue that it can be used to justify harmful cultural practices, such as female genital mutilation or honor killings, by claiming that these practices should be respected as part of a particular culture.

What is the central idea of cultural universalism?

  1. There is one universal set of values and beliefs that all cultures should adopt.

  2. Different cultures have different values and beliefs that should be respected.

  3. Cultures can be ranked based on their level of development.

  4. Cultural practices should be judged based on their own context.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Cultural universalism posits that there are certain universal values and beliefs that are shared by all cultures, regardless of their differences.

Which of the following is an example of cultural universalism?

  1. Believing that all cultures value family and community.

  2. Judging the eating habits of another culture as strange or unappetizing.

  3. Assuming that one's own culture is superior to all others.

  4. Expecting people from different cultures to conform to the same moral code.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Cultural universalism suggests that certain values, such as the importance of family and community, are shared by all cultures, regardless of their differences.

What is the main criticism of cultural universalism?

  1. It is too lenient and allows for harmful cultural practices to continue.

  2. It is too rigid and does not allow for cultural change and adaptation.

  3. It is based on the assumption that all cultures are equal.

  4. It ignores the fact that some cultural practices are universally harmful.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Critics of cultural universalism argue that it is too rigid and does not allow for cultural change and adaptation, as it assumes that there is one universal set of values and beliefs that all cultures should adopt.

Which of the following is a key difference between cultural relativism and cultural universalism?

  1. Cultural relativism emphasizes the importance of understanding cultural practices within their own context, while cultural universalism emphasizes the existence of universal values and beliefs.

  2. Cultural relativism is based on the assumption that all cultures are equal, while cultural universalism is based on the assumption that some cultures are superior to others.

  3. Cultural relativism is more tolerant of cultural differences, while cultural universalism is more judgmental.

  4. Cultural relativism is more likely to lead to cultural change, while cultural universalism is more likely to lead to cultural preservation.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The key difference between cultural relativism and cultural universalism lies in their respective emphases on the importance of understanding cultural practices within their own context versus the existence of universal values and beliefs.

How does cultural relativism impact the way anthropologists conduct research?

  1. It encourages anthropologists to adopt a neutral and objective stance towards the cultures they study.

  2. It encourages anthropologists to actively participate in the cultures they study and become immersed in their way of life.

  3. It encourages anthropologists to focus on the similarities between cultures rather than their differences.

  4. It encourages anthropologists to make judgments about the cultures they study based on their own cultural values.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Cultural relativism encourages anthropologists to adopt a neutral and objective stance towards the cultures they study, in order to avoid imposing their own cultural values and biases on their research.

How does cultural universalism impact the way anthropologists conduct research?

  1. It encourages anthropologists to adopt a neutral and objective stance towards the cultures they study.

  2. It encourages anthropologists to actively participate in the cultures they study and become immersed in their way of life.

  3. It encourages anthropologists to focus on the similarities between cultures rather than their differences.

  4. It encourages anthropologists to make judgments about the cultures they study based on their own cultural values.


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Cultural universalism encourages anthropologists to focus on the similarities between cultures rather than their differences, in order to identify universal patterns and principles that may apply to all human societies.

Which of the following is an example of a cultural universal?

  1. The belief in a supreme being

  2. The practice of monogamy

  3. The taboo against incest

  4. The use of language


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The taboo against incest is considered a cultural universal, as it is found in some form in all known human societies.

Which of the following is an example of a cultural relative?

  1. The belief in a supreme being

  2. The practice of monogamy

  3. The taboo against incest

  4. The use of language


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The practice of monogamy is considered a cultural relative, as it varies across different cultures and societies.

How does cultural relativism contribute to the understanding of cultural diversity?

  1. It encourages people to appreciate and respect different cultures.

  2. It helps people to understand the reasons behind cultural differences.

  3. It promotes tolerance and understanding among people from different cultures.

  4. All of the above.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Cultural relativism contributes to the understanding of cultural diversity by encouraging people to appreciate and respect different cultures, helping them to understand the reasons behind cultural differences, and promoting tolerance and understanding among people from different cultures.

How does cultural universalism contribute to the understanding of human nature?

  1. It helps to identify universal patterns and principles that apply to all human societies.

  2. It provides insights into the common challenges and experiences faced by all humans.

  3. It promotes cross-cultural understanding and cooperation.

  4. All of the above.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Cultural universalism contributes to the understanding of human nature by helping to identify universal patterns and principles that apply to all human societies, providing insights into the common challenges and experiences faced by all humans, and promoting cross-cultural understanding and cooperation.

What are some of the challenges associated with applying cultural relativism in practice?

  1. It can be difficult to determine which cultural practices are harmful and which are not.

  2. It can lead to the justification of harmful cultural practices in the name of cultural respect.

  3. It can make it difficult to communicate and cooperate with people from different cultures.

  4. All of the above.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Applying cultural relativism in practice can be challenging due to the difficulty in determining which cultural practices are harmful and which are not, the potential for justifying harmful cultural practices in the name of cultural respect, and the challenges it can pose for communication and cooperation with people from different cultures.

What are some of the challenges associated with applying cultural universalism in practice?

  1. It can be difficult to identify universal values and beliefs that are shared by all cultures.

  2. It can lead to the imposition of one culture's values and beliefs on other cultures.

  3. It can make it difficult to appreciate and respect cultural diversity.

  4. All of the above.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Applying cultural universalism in practice can be challenging due to the difficulty in identifying universal values and beliefs that are shared by all cultures, the potential for imposing one culture's values and beliefs on other cultures, and the challenges it can pose for appreciating and respecting cultural diversity.

- Hide questions