Culture. ethnocentrism and cultural relativity are the three footings which form the footing of this essay. There is an attempt to specify each of these footings in as precise mode as possible. Furthermore some treatment on human attitudes and features precedes the concluding reply to the inquiry: can we judge a cultural pattern as ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ ? The reply is affirmatory: Yes. all cultural patterns can non be considered equal and beyond reproach. judging them as ‘ right’ or ‘wrong’ is certainly acceptable.

Definitions Culture is defined as. “ the entirety of mental and physical reactions and activities that characterize the behaviour of persons composing of a societal group jointly and separately in relation to their natural environment. to other groups. to members of the group itself. and of each person to himself. ( Heuristic device ) Ethnocentrism is defined as inclination to look at the universe. chiefly from the position of one’s ain civilization. It frequently entails the belief that one’s ain race or cultural

group is the most of import and/or that some or all facets of its civilization are superior to those of other groups. ( Ethnocentrism ) . Cultural relativity is the rule that an individual’s beliefs and activities should be interpreted in footings of his ain civilization. ( Cultural relativism ) . It is of import to observe over here that the five civilisations of human history is the female parent of all cultural patterns. Each civilisation devised a behavioural form which suited the local geographic. economic and political conditions. The roots of all cultural

groups claiming to hold their ‘own’ and ‘independent’ civilization can be traced back to these five civilisations. They are basically outgrowths of the basic civilisation. Discussion It has been proved beyond uncertainty that the major negative features of human race are his greed and his self-importance. He ever wants to rule over his fellow worlds and other life species. On the other manus. one of the best qualities of human existences is to do our Earth a ‘worth living’ topographic point. Those who devised the cultural patterns were besides

human existences and therefore all civilizations have something that can be called ‘good’ and something that can be called ‘bad’ or ‘not acceptable’ . A few illustrations will turn out this point. The Indus vale civilisation. steadfastly advocates the theory of ‘ unrecorded and allow live’ . Hinduism. a faith originating in the Indian sub-continent advocates merely vegetarian nutrient. The statement is. ‘ why kill a fish. poulet or an carnal when your tummy can be filled with veggies and cereals. without doing any via media on the alimentary values?

’ So far so good. The same civilization has a ‘caste’ system. The position of a human being is decided by the virtuousness of his birth. If he is born in a ‘higher’ caste. he has the universe at his pess. and if he is born in a ‘lower’ caste household. so he is treated as an untouchable. who will ne’er acquire any chance in life to better his place. The European civilization. While European intelligence has been instrumental in bordering the extremely developed proficient universe of today. full of amenitiess. the same Europeans have

sucked the blood of the 3rd universe population by set uping settlements. for centuries together. A really true fact. right from the civilisation yearss to today. is that all human attempts in inventing cultural patterns have been concentrated at ‘local’ degree merely. No civilization has a planetary attack. The Indus vale civilisation is possibly an exclusion to this. The patterns are laid down for a peculiar group of people shacking in that peculiar geographic country. In the full history of human development. adult male has ne’er lived like a

individual species. Acerate leaf to state. ‘betterment of life’ and ‘peaceful co-existence’ were the purposes of any cultural patterns. Hence. rating of any civilization should be done on a really basic inquiry. ‘ does it let others to be peacefully? ’ The two systems of cultural perceptual experiences. viz. ethnocentrism and cultural relativism have really less significance. While ethnocentrism topographic points one’s ain civilization as the ‘only best ‘ cultural relativism closes the doors for judgements about other civilizations. Ethnocentrism

does non set Americans or Europeans as the best cultural groups and cultural relativism can non disregard the fact that bondage system in America is a ‘wrong practice’ . These perceptual experiences are irrelevant because no civilization is supreme or the best. and no civilization is so complete in itself. Drumhead No theory can forestall judgement of the ‘wrong’ and the ‘ right’ of any cultural pattern. Simply because no civilization is flawless. when assessed on human-centered and planetary evidences. Any pattern which preserves the peaceable co-existence and helps in improvement

of life will ever be applauded and any pattern which promotes unfairness. inhuman treatment and domination over others. will ever be turned down. If Americans think in an ethnocentric manner that they are the indirect dominators of the universe personal businesss. they are mistaken. It was Europe yesterday. America today and tomorrow may belong to some other civilization. Similarly if Asians think that there is no demand to go through judgement on any other civilization because every civilization is complete on its ain. they are besides incorrect. They ought to go through a judgement and raise a voice against the ‘wrong’

colonisation and bondage of Europeans and Americans severally. No theory can halt passing judgements over any cultural pattern. Judgments are necessary. They ever help in bettering upon the negative facets of any civilization. Works – cited page 1 ) ‘Heuristic device’ and ‘cultural relativism’ . wikipedia the free encyclopaedia. 12 – 02-07. Retrieved on 14-02-07. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/cultural_relativism & gt ; 2. ‘Ethnocentrism’ . wikipedia the free encyclopaedia. 10-02-07. Retrieved on 14-02-07. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/etnocentrism & gt ;