FRESHMAN SEMINAR IN PHILOSOPHY: RELATIVISM
PHIL 150W, Sec. 01: TTh 9:30am-10:50am in Blair 142
PHIL 150W, Sec. 02: TTh 11am-12:20pm in Blair 142
The College of William and Mary
Spring 2003
Instructor: James Woodbridge
email address: jawoo2@wm.edu
Course Webpage: http://fsweb.wm.edu/jawoo2/wm/150w.htm
Office Hours: T 3:30pm-5pm, W 10:30am-12pm, and by appointment
Office: 126 Blair Hall
Office Phone: 221-2713
Dept. Phone: 221-2735
RESPONSE ESSAY 8
In "The Challenge of Cultural Relativism," James Rachels discusses the consequences of taking cultural relativism seriously (MR, pp. 57-59).
Write a 2-page paper reacting to this material.
Aim to do the following sorts of things:
- In your own words, state the central claim of cultural relativism according to Rachels, and explain as clearly as you can what Rachels claims follows from cultural relativism.
- Explain the reasoning involved on this point--How does Rachels argue that these consequences follow?
- Evaluate the arguments--Do you think Rachels' reasoning on these points works? Explain why or why not. Is there any reply a cultural relativist could make to resist these putative consequences,
or to render them harmless? Explain.
- Identify further questions that can be raised about cultural relativism in light of your assessment of Rachels' position.
Keep your paper within the 2-page limit!
Your paper is due at the beginning of class, Tuesday, April 8th.