Understanding Cultural Relativism and Ethical Absolutism
Moral absolutism and cultural relativism are ethical understandings of social behaviors and actions. Moral absolutism holds that universal codes of conduct must be adhered to regardless of context. In particular, a moral absolutist believes that right and wrong are immutable and cannot be excused by circumstantial justification.
For instance, different cultures carry out certain practices that they believe are well-founded. A moral absolutist can judge such practices and denote them as wrong if they do not align with their views. In many cases, moral absolutism is based on principles and laws seen as universal and obvious. However, this is never the case, as the morality of numerous social issues, such as abortion and gun control, usually divides opinion sharply.
Argument for or Against Cultural Relativism and Ethical Absolutism in Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery”
Moral Absolutism
In the context of Shirley Jackson’s 1948 short story, “The Lottery,” moral absolutism is espoused by Old Warner. Participating in his seventy-seventh lottery, he holds that the annual lottery held by his village is morally right. Another character, Mrs. Adams, mentions that other villages are doing away with the practice. Still, Old Warner maintains that it would be “trouble” to abandon the lottery and notes that nothing is ever “good enough” for the younger generations (Jackson). This indicates that younger people question the suitability and humaneness of the practice.
However, Old Wagner is unwilling to alter his opinion on the lottery. He sees it as a good thing, and those who disagree with his view, regardless of their arguments, are wrong. Moral absolutism can lead to a situation where people persist with harmful practices as they are unwilling to challenge the beliefs and conventions they have established for themselves.
Cultural Relativism
In contrast, cultural relativism accepts that the lines between good and evil are usually blurred. In particular, truths, beliefs, and behaviors are usually influenced by the currents of the time and are not absolute. A cultural relativist does not judge other people’s opinions and actions but acknowledges that ethical frameworks are not universal. Thus, the cultural relativist is willing to challenge their beliefs and accommodate those of others. They are also willing to adjust their behaviors depending on the context to cause the least harm to others. On many divisive social matters today, the cultural relativism approach is best when trying to find common ground.
Cultural relativism provides a framework for the village practice in the short story “The Lottery.” According to the laws and conventions of contemporary society, the actions of the villagers are wrong and unfair, as Mrs. Hutchinson is stoned to death based on the outcome of a raffle. However, a cultural relativist would want to know the social and historical context of the lottery and whether there is a sound rationale for it. Perhaps this would explain why some people, such as Old Wagner, think it is a practice the community should persist with.
A cultural socialist would appreciate that whatever beliefs people have today of right and wrong are not superior to those held by the villagers in the short story. In the same vein, the younger generation is cultural relativist and acting positively as far as it wants to do away with the lottery. They are responsive to the changing times and are starting to view the lottery as harmful and something that should be discarded
Work Cited
Jackson, Shirley. “The Lottery.” The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 1948. Web.