Journal Entries!

Cultural Relativism 1.Can you explain and discuss what cultural relativism is? (The reading discusses Boas, Benedict, and the later Kluckhohn and their ideas of cultural relativism.) 2.Is it important to have an attitude of cultural relativism when studying other cultures? 3.If you study and appreciate another culture, do you have to accept all its values? (reflect on Rosaldo’s anecdote about Ilongot head hunting). 4.Kluckhohn, in his earlier work, insisted there are universal ethical values. Do you agree with him? If you do, what do you think are universal values? (example, “do not kill.”) 5.Does your country have the death penalty for certain crimes? Do you agree with the death penalty? 6.Does your country have legal abortion? How does the death penalty differ from abortion (or does it)? 7.Is it legal in your country for private citizens to own guns? For what purpose? Do you think that guns make a country safer or not? Do you think all humans have the capacity for violence, or is this learned cultural behavior?