April 17th, 2000 - ANTH 316

Worksheet

Elvin Hatch "The Good Side of Relativism" (1997)

How does Hatch defend a limited ethical relativism?

What are our moral decisions (about ourselves and about Others) based on in Hatch's understanding of ethical relativism?

Connect the Dots:

It has been argued that the conditions of postmodernity undermine both the authority of science and our individual ability to make decisions. Also, Hatch's skepticism of universal categories of judgment shares many features with the postmodern critique of metanarratives. Do you think his defense of relativism bolsters the authority of science, or continues to undermine it?

What does an embrace of relativism do to theories of resistance? Is it possible that we will see resistance where there is none, or vice versa, that we will overlook some resistances?

What is the impact of relativism on ideas of universal human rights?