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CULTURE AND CULTURAL RELATIVISM
- KS Kiran Kumar

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In a common man’s perception, Culture is the word used to describe the varying customs, habits and attitudes shared by different groups of people. In a way, one can call the Culture as a composition of language, fine arts, traditions, beliefs, perceptions, moral values, knowledge of a group of people. This is the influencing factor as to how a person sees the world and how he/she acts. Even though, we find the Culture and Society as two different things, Culture becomes the part of the society as they are inextricably connected with each other as these shared values and attitudes passed on to the generations through society. Culture shapes and moulds our behavior that fits in to a particular group. However, I must say that human behavior, at various instances necessarily can not be comprehended to their culture. Major component of human adaptive nature is the capability of behavioral diversity and culture is the key to understand that diversity. Any where in the world, the differences between various groups are largely cultural in nature. This is due to the different patterns of adaptation of different groups. In a complex and diverse society like ours, we too find certain cultural differences. It is also due to the fact that people from different parts try to retain much of their culture and tradition while still attempting to be part of the new society they are in. However, every culture is worthy of respect and understanding and they have their own logic, integrity and relativity. Let me quote from the Indiana Humanities Council sponsored lecture of Susan B. Sutton on culture and pluralism : Quote : “… Cultural relativism arose from the efforts of such early 20th century anthropologists as Franz Boas, Bronislaw Malinowski, Zora Neal Hurston, and Margaret Mead. In seeking to understand groups as varied as the Samoans and the Kwakiutl, they came to feel that each culture made sense within its own context, that each provided a fulfilling and adequate way of life. What might at first glance appear irrational, bizarre, and non-comprehensible to the observer could be shown to make a great deal of logical sense if viewed from the cultural perspective of the person doing it'. 'Cultural relativism, as a means of understanding, also asks that we recognize that some of what we view as the natural ways for understanding behavior be recognized as coming from our own culture. It asks us to at least temporarily suspend aspects of our own culture to understand others. For many of us, culture is so ingrained from our early childhood that it seems self-evident, natural, the only way the world can be. We use our cultural knowledge and beliefs to operate in the world almost unconsciously. We interpret the behavior of others according to it, without thinking. This works well so long as you are only looking at people like yourself. As soon as you look at someone from another cultural system, however, you run into trouble, unless you are willing to mentally shift into that other system.” Unquote : Basic idea of this Cultural relativism is not to say which culture is superior and inferior, but to bring in the similarities and comparabilities among cultures. This will build a heightened tolerance and respect for others and their cultures. By understanding others better, one also paradoxically come to see his own self and culture in a new light. Before that one should understand about their own culture with their own hearts.

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