Cultural Relativism

Description: Cultural Relativism Quiz
Number of Questions: 15
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Tags: cultural relativism anthropology culture society
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What is the central tenet of cultural relativism?

  1. Cultures should be judged by their own standards, not by the standards of other cultures.

  2. All cultures are equally valid and should be respected.

  3. There is no such thing as a superior or inferior culture.

  4. All of the above.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Cultural relativism is the belief that all cultures are valid and should be understood on their own terms, rather than being judged by the standards of another culture.

Which anthropologist is most closely associated with cultural relativism?

  1. Franz Boas

  2. Margaret Mead

  3. Ruth Benedict

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Franz Boas, Margaret Mead, and Ruth Benedict were all influential anthropologists who contributed to the development of cultural relativism.

What is the opposite of cultural relativism?

  1. Cultural absolutism

  2. Ethnocentrism

  3. Cultural imperialism

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Cultural absolutism, ethnocentrism, and cultural imperialism are all terms that refer to the belief that one's own culture is superior to all others.

What are some of the implications of cultural relativism?

  1. We should not judge other cultures by our own standards.

  2. We should respect the beliefs and practices of other cultures, even if we do not agree with them.

  3. We should be open to learning about and understanding other cultures.

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Cultural relativism has a number of implications for the way we think about and interact with other cultures.

What are some of the criticisms of cultural relativism?

  1. It can lead to moral relativism, the belief that there are no absolute moral standards.

  2. It can make it difficult to condemn human rights abuses in other cultures.

  3. It can prevent us from learning from other cultures.

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Cultural relativism has been criticized on a number of grounds, including the claim that it can lead to moral relativism, make it difficult to condemn human rights abuses, and prevent us from learning from other cultures.

How can we balance the need to respect other cultures with the need to protect human rights?

  1. We can develop international human rights standards that apply to all cultures.

  2. We can work to promote cultural understanding and cooperation.

  3. We can support organizations that work to protect human rights in all cultures.

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

There is no easy answer to the question of how to balance the need to respect other cultures with the need to protect human rights. However, there are a number of things that we can do to try to achieve this balance.

What is the difference between cultural relativism and cultural universalism?

  1. Cultural relativism is the belief that all cultures are valid and should be understood on their own terms, while cultural universalism is the belief that there are certain universal values that are shared by all cultures.

  2. Cultural relativism is the belief that there are no absolute moral standards, while cultural universalism is the belief that there are certain moral standards that are true for all cultures.

  3. Cultural relativism is the belief that one's own culture is superior to all others, while cultural universalism is the belief that all cultures are equally valid.

  4. None of the above


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Cultural relativism and cultural universalism are two different ways of thinking about culture. Cultural relativism emphasizes the importance of understanding cultures on their own terms, while cultural universalism emphasizes the importance of identifying shared values across cultures.

What are some of the challenges of practicing cultural relativism in today's globalized world?

  1. The increasing interconnectedness of the world makes it more difficult to avoid contact with other cultures.

  2. The rise of social media has made it easier for people to share their cultural values with others.

  3. The growing number of cultural conflicts makes it more difficult to find common ground between different cultures.

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The increasing interconnectedness of the world, the rise of social media, and the growing number of cultural conflicts all pose challenges to the practice of cultural relativism.

How can we promote cultural understanding and cooperation in a globalized world?

  1. We can support organizations that work to promote cultural understanding and cooperation.

  2. We can learn about other cultures through books, movies, and travel.

  3. We can interact with people from other cultures through social media and online forums.

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

There are a number of things that we can do to promote cultural understanding and cooperation in a globalized world.

What is the importance of cultural relativism in anthropology?

  1. It helps anthropologists to understand cultures on their own terms.

  2. It prevents anthropologists from making ethnocentric judgments about other cultures.

  3. It allows anthropologists to compare different cultures and identify similarities and differences.

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Cultural relativism is an important concept in anthropology because it helps anthropologists to understand cultures on their own terms, prevents them from making ethnocentric judgments about other cultures, and allows them to compare different cultures and identify similarities and differences.

How does cultural relativism affect the way that anthropologists conduct research?

  1. Anthropologists must spend a long time living in the culture they are studying in order to understand it.

  2. Anthropologists must learn the language of the culture they are studying.

  3. Anthropologists must participate in the activities of the culture they are studying.

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Cultural relativism affects the way that anthropologists conduct research in a number of ways. Anthropologists must spend a long time living in the culture they are studying in order to understand it, they must learn the language of the culture they are studying, and they must participate in the activities of the culture they are studying.

What are some of the ethical challenges that anthropologists face when conducting research in other cultures?

  1. Anthropologists may be tempted to make ethnocentric judgments about the culture they are studying.

  2. Anthropologists may be tempted to exploit the people they are studying.

  3. Anthropologists may be tempted to harm the environment of the culture they are studying.

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Anthropologists face a number of ethical challenges when conducting research in other cultures. These challenges include the temptation to make ethnocentric judgments about the culture they are studying, the temptation to exploit the people they are studying, and the temptation to harm the environment of the culture they are studying.

How can anthropologists avoid making ethnocentric judgments about the culture they are studying?

  1. Anthropologists must be aware of their own cultural biases.

  2. Anthropologists must learn about the history and context of the culture they are studying.

  3. Anthropologists must spend a long time living in the culture they are studying.

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Anthropologists can avoid making ethnocentric judgments about the culture they are studying by being aware of their own cultural biases, learning about the history and context of the culture they are studying, and spending a long time living in the culture they are studying.

How can anthropologists avoid exploiting the people they are studying?

  1. Anthropologists must obtain informed consent from the people they are studying.

  2. Anthropologists must protect the privacy of the people they are studying.

  3. Anthropologists must compensate the people they are studying for their time and participation.

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Anthropologists can avoid exploiting the people they are studying by obtaining informed consent from the people they are studying, protecting the privacy of the people they are studying, and compensating the people they are studying for their time and participation.

How can anthropologists avoid harming the environment of the culture they are studying?

  1. Anthropologists must be aware of the environmental impact of their research.

  2. Anthropologists must take steps to minimize the environmental impact of their research.

  3. Anthropologists must educate the people they are studying about the importance of environmental conservation.

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Anthropologists can avoid harming the environment of the culture they are studying by being aware of the environmental impact of their research, taking steps to minimize the environmental impact of their research, and educating the people they are studying about the importance of environmental conservation.

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