Dreams Quote by Stephen R.C. Hicks
““According to Herder, one cannot make such judgments. Judgments of good and bad are defined culturally and internally, in terms of each culture’s own goals and aspirations. Each culture’s standards originate and develop from its particular needs and circumstances, not from a universal set of principles; so, Herder concluded, “let us have no more generalizations about improvement.”[178] Herder thus insisted “on a strictly relativist interpretation of progress and human perfectibility.”[179] Accordingly, each culture can be judged only by its own standards. One cannot judge one culture from the perspective of another; one can only sympathetically immerse oneself in the other’s cultural manifestations and judge them on their own terms. ””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Moral Landscape of Culture, 2015
Cultural judgments are relative; standards arise from each society’s unique needs, not universal rules.
In simple terms: Cultural standards are shaped by each society’s needs.
Key Takeaway
Respect cultural differences and avoid imposing external standards.
Themes
relativism
cultural diversity
ethics
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- international diplomacy
- global business
- education curricula
- media analysis
Key Concepts
anthropology
philosophy of culture
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we honor cultural differences while upholding basic rights?
- When is it appropriate to challenge a cultural practice?
A Different Perspective
Relativism may hinder universal human rights advocacy.
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