Quote:
Originally Posted by Rodney
I have the absolute right to say that beating someone who is weaker than I or less powerful, to maintain my power, is wrong. Not all systems and societies are healthy just because they exist. If you don't honestly believe that some things are absolutely wrong, then you don't really believe in anything. If wanting to protect the weak makes me an elitist in your eyes, well.... I just don't know.
*standing ovation*
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I just wanted to clap a little with Bill. I'm certainly not saying that American / Western culture is perfect - far from it etc. - but the shield of cultural relativism is not blanket immunity from despicable practices. If you say that I eat grits and the guy in Morrocco eats cous-cous, I can accept that for cultural relativism. If you say that it's ok that he beats his wife and I don't, then cultural relativism be damned. I don't see this as a "cultural hangup." This is something I believe we can logically argue and come to the conclusion that suppression of females and the accompanying physical abuse is not in the best interest of the society or the individual, nor is it morally defensible from the standpoint of "ethics," as long as you accept the caveat that females are 1. homosapiens, and 2. capable of thought. If you don't accept those two principles, well then....
Yeah, I'm not real big on moral relativism.