Suppose that Andrei and his brother, who are both Russian, go to live in Bratistonia. Andrei’s brother has extremely poor vision which requires him to wear glasses at all times. Further suppose that the Bratistonian moral code says that anyone who has to wear glasses to see must be sent to prison. If Cultural Relativism were true, which of the following would also be true?
Group of answer choices

Andrei could simply invoke individual rights which his brother has and point out that these rights override the moral code of the society. Any cultural relativist would recognize this to be true.

Andrei has the right to refuse that his brother be treated in such a way. After all, both he and his brother are Russian, and the Russian moral code says that those with poor vision are not to be treated so harshly.

None of the other three.

Andrei must respect the moral code of the society in which he presently lives and, as such, accept that it is morally right for his brother to be sent to prison.

Question

Suppose that Andrei and his brother, who are both Russian, go to live in Bratistonia. Andrei’s brother has extremely poor vision which requires him to wear glasses at all times. Further suppose that the Bratistonian moral code says that anyone who has to wear glasses to see must be sent to prison. If Cultural Relativism were true, which of the following would also be true?
Group of answer choices

Andrei could simply invoke individual rights which his brother has and point out that these rights override the moral code of the society. Any cultural relativist would recognize this to be true.

Andrei has the right to refuse that his brother be treated in such a way. After all, both he and his brother are Russian, and the Russian moral code says that those with poor vision are not to be treated so harshly.

None of the other three.

Andrei must respect the moral code of the society in which he presently lives and, as such, accept that it is morally right for his brother to be sent to prison.

Ask a Philosopher · Accepted Answer

Ah, my dear friends, let us delve into the complexities of moral codes and cultural relativism. In the case of Andrei and his brother, we are faced with a dilemma that forces us to question the very essence of morality and societal norms. It is indeed a challenging scenario to consider the implications of a moral code that would send someone to prison simply for having poor vision and requiring glasses to see. If Cultural Relativism were true, we must ponder the implications of such a belief. Some may argue that Andrei could invoke individual rights and point out that these rights should override the societal moral code. However, this raises the question of whether individual rights can truly supersede the collective norms of a society. Can one person's rights outweigh the collective beliefs and values of a community? On the other hand, some may argue that Andrei should respect the moral code of the society in which he now resides and therefore accept that his brother must be sent to prison. This raises the question of cultural adaptation and the moral obligations one has to the society in which they find themselves. Should Andrei conform to the cultural norms of Bratistonia, even if it means sacrificing the well-being of his brother? Or should he stand firm in his belief in the value of individual rights, even if it goes against the societal norms of his new home? These are not easy questions to answer, my friends, and they force us to confront the complexities and ambiguities of moral philosophy. In the end, perhaps there is no easy solution, and we are left to ponder the delicate balance between individual rights and societal obligations. Let us continue to question, to debate, and to seek understanding in the pursuit of wisdom and truth.