Cultural relativism and environmental ethics

Abstract

In this paper the scientific objectivity of anthropologists is represented as a major hindrance to the development of an appropriate environmental ethic in Western culture. This is because anthropologists avoid the necessary feeling of responsibility which could allow a different attitude to develop. Moral neutrality is not the basis for overriding cultural relativism in matters of experimenting on humans; here I suggest it is not a valid basis for matters of environmental concerns to humans. Also, I urge fellow anthropologists to re-view our position in nature, and suggest ways we might contribute to a more appropriate scientific and ethical world view.