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George Mason University - PHIL 309EXAM#2.>Study Guide 2 PHIL 309 Spring 2021

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Study Guide 2 PHIL 309 Spring 2018 Cultural Relativism (Chapter 2 of The Elements of Moral Philosophy) 1. In Chapter 2, Rachels discusses The Cultural Differences Argument. What is this argument and why does Rachels think that it is invalid? What are three undesirable consequences of cultural relativism? The Cultural Differences Argument: 1. Different cultures have different moral codes (Premise). 2. Therefore, there is no objective truth in morality (Conclusion 1). 3. Therefore , right and wrong are only matters of opinion, and opinions vary from culture to culture (Conclusion 2). Invalid because the conclusion doesn't follow from the premise. Three undesirable consequences of cultural relativism: 1. we could no longer say that the customs of other societies are morally wrong. 2. We could no longer criticize the code of our own society. 3. The idea of moral progress is called into doubt. 1. What is the conclusion of the cultural-differences argument A. that cultural relativism is correct B. that cultural relativism is incorrect C. that not all cultures agree about morality D. that although cultures differ in certain ways, they all agree about morality 2. What is Rachels's objection to the cultural-differences argument? A. The premise is false. B. The conclusion is false. C. Even if the premise is true, or were true, the conclusion is not, or would not, necessarily also be true. D. It is not as valid in regard to geography as it is in regard to morality. 3. What is Rachels’s point in saying that cultural relativism implies that we cannot legitimately judge some societies' customs as inferior to our own? A. He is saying that this is a virtue of cultural relativism because it is arrogant for us to ever judge some societies' customs as inferior to our own, and any theory (such as cultural relativism) saying we are never entitled to do this is, therefore, a good one. B. He is saying that this is something objectionable about cultural relativism because there are some cases in which it is legitimate for us to judge some societies' customs as inferior to our own. C. He is just exploring something about cultural relativism that does not have any bearing on whether cultural relativism is a good theory or a bad one. D. He is saying that regardless of whether cultural relativism is true or false, the argument most often given in support of it is invalid

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