"A friend of mine taught English as a second language to a group of Southeast Asian students in Southern California. Over the months she developed an excellent rapport with the students. When she became pregnant, they were all happy for her and her husband, even having a baby shower after class one night. My friend was delighted when she delivered a beautiful, healthy seven pound girl. She was shocked and puzzled when, several days after the students in her class heard of the birth, she began to receive cards of condolence from them! It soon became clear. In their culture, having a son as a first child is a matter of great joy, and they all sympathized with what they presumed was her sense of deep disappointment that she had given birth to a girl." Lawrence M. Hinman, Univ. of San Diego

At face value, Hinman's account seems to be the perfect example that supports the relativist thesis that morality originates from one's community or culture. His friend, presumably a Californian, was happy to have given birth to a healthy girl. Her Southeast Asian students, on the other hand, thought that she had been greatly disappointed that she did not have a son instead as a first child. The cultural difference resulting in the difference in opinion about the value of a baby girl's life compared to a baby boy's would be attributed to this example by a relativist.

However, this example actually undermines that same thesis. The difference between their cultures is not as great as it seems for two reasons. Firstly, what are shown to be different is their beliefs, not their morality. Another example can be used to illustrate this idea. In Islam societies, eating pork is forbidden. This is part of a religious belief that differs from other societies. However, the underlying concern behind this practice is actually health. We all agree that health is important, and that we should avoid eating unhygienic things. What differs is our belief about what is unhygienic, and to the Muslims, pigs are one of such things.

Apart from religious beliefs, cultural beliefs may also underline basic concerns which are the same for all cultures. In the Sambia Tribe of New Guinea, male homosexual practices are part of young boys' initiation into adulthood. In Japan, a conservative society against homosexuality, they have their Tango no Sekku, Boys' Day, for this initiation. Boys' initiation into adulthood is important for both of their cultures, but their different cultural beliefs lead

• 1
• 2
• 3
• next page >>

---

Add your voice

Know something about Origins of morality: Relativism versus functionalism?
We want to hear your view. Write now!