"Cultural Relativism" is a social science idea that says that you must try to understand human behavior from the perspective of that person's cultural. Some advocates declare that all "cultural systems" are "equally valid", none is better than another, and one can not morally judge a culture from the perspective of another culture.

So if a cannibal eats you do not condemn the cannibal, as his behavior is appropriate according to his culture. Cannibals and Quaker pacifists are morally equal. One eats you and one is willing to sacrifice himself for the cause of peace, but neither is better.

I find this social science view morally unacceptable, and I hope you do too.

But I do apply gladly the concept of cultural relativism to Bodega Bay.

Look at the photo above. A massive pile of crab pots blocks a bike path. In Portland, Oregon, my home, wild condemnation of this anti-environmental travesty would ensue.

But don't use your Portland environmental values to condemn the fishermen of Bodega Bay. Everything is right here, according to the values of this fishing community. How could one compare the insignificance of the bike path to the supreme importance of the massive pile of crab pots?

So maybe different cultures really are equally "valid" and morally equivalent. I just hope I do not meet any cannibals.