Anthropologists suspend cultural relativism when studying the practices of:
A) the Dani who cut off a finger from the hand of any close female relative of a man who dies.
B) the Kikuyu custom of female circumcision.
C) the Inuit custom of leaving the aged out in the cold to die.
D) the Bannock-Shoshoni who commit crimes on the reservation.
E) Anthropologists do not suspend the practice of cultural relativism in their work.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Cultural relativism is a principle in anthropology that suggests that all cultures are valid and can only be truly understood in their own contexts. Anthropologists strive to maintain this perspective to avoid ethnocentrism and to understand cultural practices without imposing their own cultural norms and values. Therefore, they do not suspend cultural relativism when studying various practices, including those that might seem controversial or unethical from an outsider's perspective. This approach allows for a more objective and comprehensive understanding of different cultures.

Anthropologists Suspend Cultural Relativism When Studying the Practices Of