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Multiculturalism as propaganda : Comments
By David Long, published 30/8/2007Many of those who hold the concept of multiculturalism in reverential awe do not have a clear understanding of its meaning.
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"Is the truth worth pursuing?" -- "Scientifically speaking? No!"
I have never read such gross misrepresentation. David Long, you are a liar.
From Alfred Kroeber at the beginning of the 20th century through George Tamarin to Marc Hauser today, anthropologists and psychologists have revealed the common cross-cultural foundation of human morality.
There *are* universal, instinctive moral values which are common to the vast majority of people across cultures. It is precisely the social sciences which have demonstrated it. For you to suggest that sociology teaches unadulterated moral relativism is an outright lie.
Subjective, "cultural" values -- which change over time as well as across cultures -- do exist, and indeed at their extremes lead to rather perverse behaviour (which, if it were not "cultural", would be regarded as psychopathic). But the vast majority of members of any culture, when asked to make "reference" moral judgments which are outside the dictates of their cultural norm, will make the same decisions.
Moreover, science by its nature has come from an "enlightened" background. The cultures which fostered scientific development have always been those which are expanding, malleable and receptive to challenges to their basic ideas: the ancient Greeks and Chinese, the Arabs in the middle ages, and the globalising Western civilisation since the 15th century.
Scientists are, of course, well aware of the history of science and their own cultural backgrounds and therefore almost universally progressive. The values of science are NOT relativist, but receptive: ready to examine new evidence, to hear testimony on its merits, and accept "new" truths as they are discovered.
Therefore, there *is* a morality of science. Science depends on a certain moral stance and scientists, by and large, will advocate that moral stance.
It includes tolerance of opposing opinions and of mere "cultural" differences, especially where common humanity can be recognised.