10/16 James Rachels, “The Challenge of Cultural Relativism” (in Moser and Carson)

Theme: Criticisms of cultural relativism

1. What is the cultural differences argument, and what problem does Rachels find in it? What are the negative consequences of cultural relativism?

2. What does Rachels have to say about values that are held in common by all societies, and how does this affect cultural relativism?

3. What insights does Rachels think we should learn from cultural relativism?