ANT2APA - Ethics & Action: Cultural Relativism and Problem Solving

This essay discusses the ethical considerations in applied anthropology, specifically focusing on the tension between adhering to cultural relativism and the commitment to solving problems and improving the lives of research participants. It explores the concepts of cultural relativism and ethnocentrism, arguing that while ethnocentrism should be avoided due to its potential for biased conclusions, cultural relativism provides a valuable framework for understanding different cultures. The essay suggests that applied anthropologists should strive for culturally appropriate approaches in their work, avoiding practices that threaten cultural diversity and environmental sustainability, ultimately aiming to improve human life while respecting cultural contexts. This essay is available on Desklib, where students can find a variety of academic resources.

Running head: ANTHROPOLOGY ETHICS AND ACTIONS
Anthropology Ethics and Actions
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note:

1ANTHROPOLOGY ETHICS AND ACTIONS
Anthropology can be defined as the study of the human and behavior of human in
societies in the future and past and according to the researchers applied anthropology can be
defined as the way anthropology applied for the betterment of human life (Evans-Pritchard
2013). Applied anthropology can be applied in many diverse fields of works like human rights
and environmental issues as well as applied anthropologist can take many different roles in their
work like policy analyst and researchers (Evans-Pritchard 2013).
From the above discussion, it is quite clear that study of anthropology is intricately
intertwined with the human culture and human sentiment. As a result there is a growing need for
applied anthropologist to make their work like researches much more culturally appropriate
(Evans-Pritchard 2013). Anthropology is a very vast discipline and like any other vast discipline,
anthropology also lacks any proper standard guidance and there is lot of debate among what
practice method should be adopted and what not. In this particular area, an applied
anthropologist faces the issues like cultural relativism and ethnocentrism (Evans-Pritchard 2013).
Cultural relativism is a belief and viewing a culture from its own stand point and
believing that the theory that the moral principles and customs of a culture is influenced by the
culture it is originated form and no culture is absolute (Bowie 2015). On the other hand,
ethnocentrism can be defined as the way of judging and evaluating other culture based on the
prejudiced belief of a particular culture’s point of view (Booth 2014).
Hence, it can be seen that in the situation of ethnocentrism, a preconceptions is already
present while evaluating a particular culture. In case of any scientific research, preconceptions
are bound to produce erroneous conclusion. It is much truer in case of subjective field like
anthropology which is totally based on the subjective approaches. Therefore, as leading

2ANTHROPOLOGY ETHICS AND ACTIONS
researchers investigating in this field agreed that ethnocentrism must be avoided while
conducting a research in the field of anthropology.
On the other hand, many reputed anthropologist stated that the anthropologist who
practice the method of cultural relativism are the pioneer of the cultural relativism (Bennett
2015). Cultural relativism is neither a philosophy nor a method, but a way of understanding. As
some people argue, it is not a way of avoiding judgment either but this way of understanding
might lead to the investigator towards better judgment.
In today’s diverse and extremely globalised society and culture, there is a far cry in the
society to everything to be culturally appropriate. However, a researcher’s primary commitment
should be towards the fulfillment of a particular problem. Although, it must be kept in mind that
the any practice which threatens a particular society’s cultural diversity and environmental
sustainability, should be avoided (Veteto and Lockyer 2015). An applied anthropologist must be
committed to the betterment of human life but the approach must be culturally appropriate as
well.
Therefore, in a nutshell, it can be said that an applied anthropologist must avoid
ethnocentrism in his/ her practice and should adapt the practice of cultural relativism by keeping
an eye on the culturally appropriate approach.

3ANTHROPOLOGY ETHICS AND ACTIONS
References:
Bennett, T., 2015. Cultural studies and the culture concept. Cultural studies, 29(4), pp.546-568.
Booth, K., 2014. Strategy and Ethnocentrism (Routledge Revivals). Routledge.
Bowie, N.E., 2015. Relativism, cultural and moral. Wiley Encyclopedia of Management, pp.1-4.
Evans-Pritchard, E.E., 2013. Social anthropology. Routledge.
Veteto, J.R. and Lockyer, J., 2015. Applying anthropology to what? Tactical/ethical decisions in
an age of global neoliberal imperialism. Journal of Political Ecology, 22(1), pp.357-367.