CULTURAL

RELATIVISM
 WHAT IS
CULTURAL
RELATIVISM?
 CULTURAL RELATIVISM

Cultural relativism means that we do not

judge a society by our own criteria of what is
right or wrong, odd or natural. Rather, we will
make an effort to understand the cultural
traditions of other communities in their own
cultural context.
 In a holistic understanding of the term
cultural relativism, it tries to promote the
understanding of cultural practices that are
unfamiliar to other cultures such as eating
insects, genocides or genital cutting.
 SUMMARIZED DEFINITION OF CULTURAL
RELATIVISM

1. In cultural relativism, no one can judge a

society by their standards in the principle of
right or wrong, eccentric or natural.
2. People must understand other societies’
cultures.
3. In cultural relativism, the aim is to
strengthen our knowledge and
interpretation of the practices and cultural
traditions that are not part of our culture
and that not uncommon to other cultures.
4. Cultural relativism is a moral theory that
claims the idea of no objective universal
moral rules that would apply to every
culture and it varies depending on the
culture of the society.
ADVANTAGES
OF CULTURAL
RELATIVISM
 POSITIVE ASPECTS OF CULTURAL
RELATIVISM
It creates learning
It eliminates the
opportunities that
concept of separate,
could make humanity
but equal.
stronger.

It creates a
It encourages
system of niche
respect.
expertise.
DANGERS OF
CULTURAL
RELATIVISM
JUSTIFYING HARMFUL
PRACTICES
Cultural relativism can be exploited
to defend and prevent questioning
harmful traditions:

Female genital mutilation, child

marriage, and other human rights
violations that are often justified as
cultural practices (UNICEF, 2013).
UNDERMINING HUMAN
RIGHTS
When every cultural norm is accepted,
universal human rights are at risk:
Human rights norms are meant to be
universal and protect all people,
regardless of culture (Donnelly, 2013).
Cultural relativism can undermine the
global fight against practices like slavery,
human trafficking, and gender-based
violence (Mutua, 2002).
PREVENTING MORAL
PROGRESS
By discouraging external criticism,
cultural relativism can prevent the
questioning of harmful traditions:

It restricts moral growth by suggesting all

traditions like slavery are beyond critique.
Societies need critique to evolve and
challenge outdated practices (Nussbaum,
1999).
 EXAMPLE:
CULTURAL
RELATIVISM AND
NAZISM
CULTURAL RELATIVISM
AND NAZISM
Extreme cultural relativism could argue
that no cultural belief, even in regimes
like Nazi Germany, can be judged:

Relativism might suggest we can't criticize

beliefs that led to atrocities like the
Holocaust, as they were part of Nazi
ideology (Rachels, 2003).
COUNTER-
POINT
UNIVERSAL HUMAN
RIGHTS
•While respecting cultures is essential,
some values like freedom, dignity, and
equality must be universal:

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

(UDHR) advocates for the protection of all
people, regardless of cultural background
(United Nations, 1948).
CONCLUSION
Cultural relativism has its merits, but taken to
extremes, it can justify harmful practices and
undermine global human rights. There needs to be
a balance between respecting cultural diversity and
protecting universal moral principles.
UNIVERSAL
VALUES
 UNIVERSAL VALUES
A set of core principles or
beliefs that are shared by people
across different cultures, societies,
and historical periods.
 UNIVERSAL VALUES

Respect Fairness
 UNIVERSAL VALUES
Honesty Responsibility
 UNIVERSAL VALUES

Compassion Cooperation Justice

HUMAN DIGNITY
Human dignity means that every
person has inherent worth and
deserves to be treated with respect
and fairness. It’s about recognizing
that everyone matters equally.
PEACE EDUCATION
Peace education teaches people
how to handle conflicts in a
nonviolent way and how to build
positive relationships. It focuses on
skills like understanding, empathy,
and cooperation.
 HOW HUMAN DIGNITY
ENHANCES PEACE EDUCATION

Respectful Empathy Human Rights

Interactions Building Education
 HOW HUMAN DIGNITY
ENHANCES PEACE EDUCATION

Conflict Social Justice Global

Resolution Skills and Equity Citizenship
ANY QUESTIONS??
FILIPINO CUSTOM
AND TRADITION
 BAYANIHAN
The Filipino spirit of cooperation and
communal harmony is known as bayanihan.
It alludes to the custom of assisting one’s
neighbors in difficult circumstances, like
during home construction or a move. It
typifies the Filipinos’ strong sense of
belonging to their community and their
eagerness to help those in need. A long-
standing custom in the Philippines is
bayanihan.
 GIVING RESPECT TO ELDERS
“PAGMAMANO, PO OR OPO”
"Manopo" is a Filipino term used to show
respect, particularly to elders. It involves
taking the hand of an elder and placing it
on one's forehead as a gesture of
reverence. This traditional gesture
expresses respect and is often done
when greeting or bidding farewell to older
family members or respected individuals.
It's a way of acknowledging their wisdom
and showing gratitude.
 COURTSHIP
Filipinos are very romantic people.
‘Harana” or serenading is the most
famous way of courtship to show
serious intentions of the man to the
woman. This done by a man who will
sing a love song at the front of the
house of the woman to express
affection for their lovers, he’s usually
accompanied by his male friends.
 SIMBANG GABI
In the Philippines, there are a total of nine Masses
held in the nine days before Christmas. The
Spanish terms “simbang” (to go to Mass) and
“gabi” are the origin of the name “Simbang Gabi”
(night). Simbang Gabi is a custom that dates back
to the 16th century, when Spanish missionaries
introduced the Catholic religion to the Philippines.
The early morning Masses were initially held so
that farmers may attend before heading to work.
Nowadays, Filipinos of all ages enjoy the custom
of Simbang Gabi.
 HOSPITALITY
Filipinos are well-known to visitors to
the Philippines because they value
“mabutingpakikitungo” (Hospitality).
They are welcoming and make great
hosts. Filipinos treat their visitors with
utmost respect and give their best to
entertain them and extend a warm
welcome to everyone.
FESTIVAL OR FIESTA
It is a time when people
join together to celebrate,
usually in honor of a patron
saint or to display the
region’s primary local
harvest.
 FILIPINO
SOCIAL VALUES
HOW DO WE DEFINE
SOCIAL VALUES?
SOCIAL VALUES
Social values are defined as standards, which
individuals and social groups employ to define
personal goals and essentially shape the nature.
 HIGH REGARD (SELF
ESTEEM)
Refers an individual's
overall subjective
emotional evaluation
of his/her own worth.
SMOOTH INTERPERSONAL
RELATIONSHIP
It is the nature of
interaction that
occurs between two
or more people.
 PERSONAL ALLIANCE
SYSTEM
The scheme is
anchored on kinship,
beginning with the
nuclear family.
THE COMPADRE
RELATIONSHIP
The practice of choosing
well-known or powerful
affluent persons to act as
godparents (ninongs or
ninangs) in the wedding or
baptism of one's son or
daughter
 UTANG-NA-LOOB
A dyadic bond between
two persons which
includes the word "debt".
Although it is expected
the debtor will attempt
repayment, it is widely
recognized that the debt
cannot be fully repaid.
SUKI RELATIONSHIP

This relationship can be

developed between two
people who agreed to
become regular customer
or supplier
 FRIENDSHIP
Is considered the most
central among Filipino
Relationships. A
willingness to help one
another provides the
prime rationale for the
relationship
WEAKNESSES OF
FILIPINO
CHARACTER
KANYA-KANYA
SYNDROME
Can lead to jealousy and
crab mentality.
BAHALA NA SYNDROME

Leaving everything to chance/luck.

No specific goals.
UTANG NA LOOB
The beneficiary of a good deed
has to repay the favor with
another favor.
PROCRASTINATION
"mamaya na" habit.
LACK OF DISCIPLINE
No motivation
Ningas Kugon
Filipino Time
LACK OF SELF ANALYSIS
AND SELF REFLECTION
Filipinos are too caught up in the
hustle and bustle of everyday life
that they fail to take the time to
look within themselves and
evaluate their actions and
decisions.
COLONIAL MENTALITY
Filipinos prefer and love foreign
made products.
CRAB MENTALITY
Likes to pull each other down.
PRIDE AND ARROGANCE
Filipinos don't like the of being
defeated or embarrassed. "Amor
Profio" which is a Spanish word,
meaning pride.
NOSY
Filipinos like to engage in
gossips and easy to form
speculation in their minds.
SHOW OFF
Filipinos would spend beyond
their means for the purpose of
showing off.
EXTREME PERSONALISM
Filipinos are very personal.
THANK YOU
SO MUCH