What would a subjective moral relativist say about what this doctor is doing? Do you agree with the subjective moral relativist? Why or why not?
-A subjective moral relativist would say that the doctor is entitled to their personal beliefs on morality. If the doctor believes that performing female circumcision is right, then it is right. Also, the doctor can physically perform this procedure in this state where society has deemed it legal. Aside from legalities, female circumcision in this scenario can be perceived as the morally right thing to do and also as the morally wrong thing to do. For circumcision to be the right action, the girl consenting would have to be cognitively in the formal operational stage to be able to abstractly understand her own morals, logic, and perception of self. Also, if female circumcision is necessary to save her life, then this action may be justified. In the other hand, it is wrong to perform female circumcision on a young girl who still has lots of physical, emotional, and cognitive development to go through before she is mature enough. The young girl may not be cognitively ready to acquiesce to female circumcision. Also, if the girl is a minor and there are no other reasons except cultural ones, then it would be wrong of the doctor to perform the procedure if he does not hold those cultural norms to be personally true.
Examine what a cultural moral relativist would say here. Do you agree with the cultural relativist? Why or why not?
-A cultural moral relativist accept that different societies have different moral codes and that one society’s moral is no better than the other. A cultural relativist would begin with a premise by stating facts about Somalian culture in order to draw a conclusion about morality (Rachels, 2018). For example, the premise would be that the Somalian culture believe that women are pure and more honorable when they are circumcised. Therefore, the conclusion would be female circumcision is neither objectively right or wrong and it is a matter of opinion.
-Personally, a cultural relativist perspective is not agreeable on an individual level. In attempt to be unbiased, this perspective may be useful as a starting point regarding cultural norms. However, the conclusive sentence is based on opinion and disregards facts. These women were confined only to their society at that moment. Thus, female circumcision may have been one limited resource for survival in that particular setting. However, the circumcised women’s autonomy was violated. Female circumcision may be Somalian culture, but the cognizant girls have been coerced through their culture that enduring pain, engaging in non-consenting mutilation, and not complaining about it makes them more honorable, eligible for marriage, and more likely to survive in their society. Yet, the circumcised females complained of life-long pain, chronic trauma, and oppression. These women physically suffered to uphold cultural traditions.
Name and evaluate general criticisms of cultural relativism as being the wrong moral approach.
-One criticism towards this perspective is that cultural relativism condemns criticism of societal codes. If a society is set upholding old traditions and laws despite new discoveries, knowledge, and resources, their society becomes more isolated (Reyes-Garcia, 2016). The inability to question or challenge norms, beliefs, and laws prevents change for societal adaptation and survivability. Plus, laws should be in place for individuals to live cohesively, and not control people despite their well-being. The freedom to challenge certain beliefs and facts help protects individual autonomy and improves individualistic cohesion within societies.
Is there an objective moral truth about any of the possible actions by the nurse and/or doctor in this case? Why or why not?
-Objective moral truth is morality that is accepted by the majority of all societies like honesty and not murdering freely. Possible actions that the doctor and nurse can do is educate the girl and her father and be transparent about the procedure and all of the risks and benefits. Also, at this point in time, there are conscience protections for health care providers. The nurse has legal right to refuse participating in procedures that go against her religious and moral beliefs. That means the doctor should not try to coerce or lie to the nurse by holding her job on the line or discriminating against her.
References
Rachels, J. (2018). The Elements of Moral Philosophy (9th Edition). McGraw-Hill Higher Education (US). https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/books/9781260213003 (Links to an external site.)
Reyes-García, V., Guèze, M., Díaz-Reviriego, I., Duda, R., Fernández-Llamazares, Á., Gallois, S., Napitupulu, L., Orta-Martínez, M., & Pyhälä, A. (2016). The adaptive nature of culture. A cross-cultural analysis of the returns of local environmental knowledge in three indigenous societies. Current anthropology, 57(6), 761–784. https://doi.org/10.1086/689307
Last Completed Projects
| topic title | academic level | Writer | delivered |
|---|