Cultural relativism is the idea that a person’s beliefs, values, and practices should be understood based on their own culture, rather than being judged against the criteria of another culture. It emphasizes that no single culture is superior to another and that cultural norms and moral values are relative to the society in which they exist.
This concept is often contrasted with ethnocentrism, which is the tendency to judge other cultures by the standards of one’s own culture. Cultural relativism is important in anthropology, ethics, and international relations because it promotes tolerance and understanding of diverse cultural practices. However, it can also be controversial when it appears to justify harmful practices (such as human rights violations) simply because they are culturally accepted.