Cultural Relativism

 Cultural Relativism is basically the recognition that one culture cannot be arbitrarily judged by the standards of other. 

If we try to understand and comprehend a foreign culture in terms of our values , beliefs, norms motives we will not be able to do so. Because our values ,norms ,motives, and belief will bias our observation and our judgement will not be real and authentic because we will show partiality. We must interpret and describe their behaviour in the light of their own believes ,habits ,norms values, and motives, if we are to understand and know about their culture. It means:

"To understand the society of a foreign culture we will have to apply the modes of the same society."

For this purpose a sociologist is required to undergo and carry changes in his attitude, motives ,values, beliefs and habits according to the social system of the society which he wants to study and analyse. It is a short training for that sociologist. He must set is values a site and learn the habits, values and motives of the people of the new society.

Examples:

•   For example if we study the Hindu culture, the "Sati" right appears are total barbarism and cruelty on women that is against the human rights. After complete study of Hindu culture, this right will appear fitted in the total social system and integrated into its culture. 
•  Similarly ,the Tibetans and Toda five men practice and undergo polyandry which appears highly immoral to us. The people practicing it take it a part of their culture and society. 
• The old men who are unable to do any job are killed by the Eskimos and old manner highly respected in Muslim society and cultures.

From these examples, it is clear that certain traits in a culture are  fitted and integrated into its whole and they are part of this culture. If a trait is withdrawn from the culture,the total culture collapses until it's substitute or replacing rite is provided.

It also means that if certain trait is bad in one society and culture, might be good for another society. A trait that performs important and useful function in a society is considered as a good trait and vice versa and it may appear bad for the people of other societies.

Horton  and Hunt define culture relativism as:

"The function and meaning of a treat a relative to its cultural settings."

Trade is neither good nor bad but it is good or bad only good the context of the respective culture and society.

Conclusion: 

Some things are right and good in one culture as they are fitted and integrated into it and other things are wrong and bad in that culture because they are not working harmoniously and are not fitting in that culture.