PSC 2367 Lecture 3: Lecture 3 Notes: Universality vs. Cultural Relativism
8 Feb 2019
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Universal (in terms of human rights) : applies to everybody. Cultural relativism (in terms of human rights): allows for variations from culture to culture, di erent interpretation of rights depending on ones culture. Challenges to/critiques of universalism: asian values : in many asian countries families have rights, not an individual. It"s valuing the state or the country over the individual > community over individual. Need to protect against the excess of the individual, if too much is given to an individual, then that will lead to chaos and disorder. Deemphasis in civil and political rights, emphasis in social, cultural and economic rights; development is a priority: islamic perspectives , african perspectives : di erent idea and interpretation of human rights and humans as an individual. Emphasis on family, community and kinship, shared with the asian values . Universal rights come from a western perspective > prioritize individualism and civil and political rights which isn"t shared by all communities.
