But That's Not Fair!

A college class is debating whether or not there can be universally-accepted standards for morality and ethics. As nearly all of the students sway to the side of the cultural relativists, the professor has a trick up his sleeve: for the latest test, he gave each person the same grade, no matter how well (or horribly) they actually performed. Predictably, the students complain and rebel against this new grading system, claiming that it is unfair, and thus reinforcing the professor's belief that we all have certain standards of right and wrong, even if we only care when we ourselves are the victims.          

The preceding story is very famous and often used to oppose cultural relativism. It aims to prove that, when it comes to our own personal welfare, individuals have a firm sense of moral standards.        

Different cultures have different values and opinions: ancient Spartans viewed fighting in war as heroic and venerable, while Quakers refrain from physical fighting, even self-defense; in most western nations, polygamy is forbidden on moral grounds, yet in some African tribal cultures it is considered honorable for a wealthy man to support multiple women.        

In the United States, we sometimes look down upon the lavish spending of wealthy citizens. We see the hiring of maids and butlers as lazy, selfish, and unnecessary. But in India, those with money are expected to hire maids and chefs and personal drivers, because they are providing jobs for those who otherwise would have no money. It is their duty.        

Yet despite these cultural differences, universal standards for ethics do exist. There may not always be 100% firm absolutes, but there is nonetheless a right and a wrong, or at least a worse and a better.          

For example, lying is wrong. In most every culture, honesty is valued and fibbing is not. Yet in some cases, lying may be the best option. King David lied in order to save thousands of his men. Members of the Underground Railroad and Europeans during the Holocaust lied to save the lives of the pursued victims. In those instances, nearly all would agree that lying had the greatest benefits. So, a statement such as "Lying is always wrong" is unrealistic, but each situation still has a better option and a worse option. In any situation, lying is either acceptable or not.          

Cultural relativists argue that because there is no clear right and wrong, then no culture can be more--or less--moral than any other culture. But this is simply untrue. Say a pagan tribe in the Amazon kills innocent children every month to sacrifice to the sun. Clearly they lack the respect for human life that modern western culture has. The United States' political and judicial systems (flawed as they are) are far more just and fair than the dictatorships in China and North Korea.          

To say that no culture is better or more advanced than any other challenges common sense. How could one honestly say that the King Cotton slave culture of the South in the 1800's was as just as the current US social landscape (which, unfortunately, is still very far from perfect)? A culture that promotes slavery and a culture that bans it cannot be equally moral. One must have precedence over the other.          

Certainly some universal standards are held by all cultures. You are always looked down upon if you do no work, yet reap the benefits of the work of others. That is why socialism does not work; we do not find it fair to work twice as hard as our neighbor and yet receive the same pay. Nor do we find it acceptable for someone to steal for himself something that we own. Whether or not we admit it, we all hold moral standards when we are the victims. Suddenly our conscience becomes twice as astute.        

Not all issues are clearly black and white; gray areas abound. However, there do exist universal standards of ethics. Some behaviors are either looked down upon or accepted depending on the culture, but at the same time, there are consistent ideas of human goodness that do not change depending on the situation.          

And if you disagree with me, then I'll offer you a deal: you give me ten dollars and I'll give you five. Clearly you would not go for this deal because you know five is less than ten. Likewise, some cultures are inferior to others. Cultures which do not value life or care for the lowest members of society are not as well-developed, or moral, as nations such as the US.  

(November 1, 2010)