ANT2APA Minor Essay: Ethics, Action, and Cultural Relativism Dilemma

This essay addresses the central question of whether applied anthropologists should prioritize a commitment to cultural relativism and avoiding ethnocentrism, or focus on solving problems and improving the lives of research participants. It explores the inherent tensions between these two commitments and discusses the possibility of reconciling them within cross-cultural situations. The essay highlights the importance of cultural sensitivity and ethical considerations in anthropological research, emphasizing the need to balance respect for cultural differences with the desire to address social issues and effect positive change. It also references the potential for misunderstandings and conflicts in cross-cultural settings and underscores the anthropologist's responsibility to adhere to ethical principles while striving to resolve social problems.

Running Head: ETHICS AND ACTIONS
Ethics and Action
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1ETHICS AND ACTIONS
Topic- What’s more important for an applied anthropologist?
Anthropology is an academic discipline where the methods and data are used to the
current events and other related situations. There is a variety of anthropology’s application which
are used for solving the global problems. The anthropologists are trained to be sensitive
culturally. They are expected to be aware of the cultural differences and respectful towards each
culture. Similarly, the applied anthropologists work in the academic settings (Oliver‐Smith
2016). They usually work in the hospitals, the government structures, the business offices, the
non-profit organizations and many others. The applied anthropologists utilize the theories the
methods and many ethnographic findings in order to solve the human problems. It is important
for promoting, managing and accessing the programs and influencing the social conditions of
human being. The cultural relativism suggests that no ultra is superior to other cultures while
comparing the systems of morality, politics, law and others. It is rather the philosophical idea
which says that all the cultural beliefs are valid and truth itself is relative (Scupin and DeCorse
2016). Ethnocentrism is the act of judging other people in terms of their cultural background and
preconceptions.
The ethnocentric behavior must be avoided by the applied anthropologists and their
approach must be inclusive of everyone. According to G.P. Murdock, it is the tendency to
depreciate other group and exalt the in-groups. The ethnocentrism must be avoided by the
applied anthropologists because it might lead to false assumption regarding the cultural
differences (Levinson. and Pollock 2016). Such generalizations are often conscious and not
innocent. This intentional generalization might lead to cultural misinterpretation and block the
ability of the anthropologist to see the truth and judge accordingly. He /She must stay committed
to the principles of cultural relativism and promote equality and cultural sensitivity.

2ETHICS AND ACTIONS
Since the responsibility of the applied anthropologists is to stay committed to the to the
anthropological data, theory, perspectives and methods for solving the social problems. As far as
the cross cultural situations are concerned, the misunderstandings and conflicts are intricately
associated. Whenever, there are cultural differences in a given situation, conflicts might arise.
The conflicts might happen between the different ethnic groups, nationalities and religions. The
conflicts might rise up to such an extent, where the entire social condition might become
distorted (Demuijnck,2015). Here, the duty of the applied anthropologist is to stick to the ethics
of the cultural relativism having avoided ethnocentrism. The two commitments can be reconciled
and the lives of the research participants can be changed for better if in a given cross-cultural
situation, the applied anthropologist can solve the social issues being sensitive towards one’s
cultural and ethnic background.

3ETHICS AND ACTIONS
References
Demuijnck, G., 2015. Universal values and virtues in management versus cross-cultural moral
relativism: An educational strategy to clear the ground for business ethics. Journal of Business
Ethics, 128(4), pp.817-835.
Levinson, B.A. and Pollock, M. eds., 2016. A Companion to the Anthropology of Education.
John Wiley & Sons.
Oliver‐Smith, A., 2016. Disaster risk reduction and applied anthropology. Annals of
Anthropological Practice, 40(1), pp.73-85.
Scupin, R. and DeCorse, C.R., 2016. Anthropology: A global perspective. Pearson Education.