Anthropology › Section A · What is anthropology? › Topic A.6
Cross-cultural comparison and cultural relativism
To compare cultures fairly, you first have to understand each one in its own terms. Cultural relativism is anthropology's method for doing that. It asks you to hold back judgement while you learn, not to give up judgement for good.
In this topic
- Understand first
- Comparing cultures
- Cultural relativism
- A method, not moral indifference
- Worked example: sky burial
- Problems with strong moral relativism
- Relativism and human rights
- Worked example: female genital cutting
- Why relativism helps
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Key takeaways
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