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LESSON 2: Culture and Morality

Introduction
In a review essay on morality and culture, Mary Douglas pointed out that there exists little
communication between anthropologists writing on morals and the (Western) moral philosophers.
Anthropological findings enter the ethical discussions as 'exotic examples." She expects this situation to
last for quite some time.
Two conversations are running parallel: one the philosophers', about the rational foundation of
ethics, another the anthropologists', about the interaction between moral ideas and social institutions. The
conversations, as they are set at the present time, seems will never converge.
Anthropologists are confident that they are speaking about the role of culture in human life and
societies. Moral philosophers are sure that they are discussing moral issues. So far so good. But the
problem begins when anthropologists turn to the investigation of the morality of a culture and when
philosophers try to account for the role of culture in the formation of morality. The central diOiculty has to
do with the way the relation between morality and culture is perceived.
In fact, the problem is more fundamental than Douglas assumes. According to her, it is possible to
reduce the gap between anthropologists and philosophers if the latter were to give up some of their
(culturally determined) views on morality. True, but this is not the whole story. The anthropologists have
diOiculties too while accounting for the morality that philosophers speak about.

What is Culture?

Culture is derived from the Latin word "cultura" or "cultus" which means care or cultivation. Culture
as cultivation implies that every human being is a potential member of his own social group. He is endowed
with certain innate qualities to make use. However, he cannot develop these inborn talents without the
other people. He/she needs other people who can provide him/her with the needed opportunities so
he/she can translate these potentialities into realities called achievements. These accomplishments not
only help him achieve self- actualization but also make him/her a contributing member of his society.
Anthropologist Edward B. Tylor, an Englishman, developed one of the classic definitions of culture.
He said “Culture is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, law, art, moral custom, and other
capabilities and habits acquired as a member of society.” In other words, culture refers to the totality of the
humanly created world, from material culture and cultivated landscapes, via social institutions (political,
religious, economic etc.), to knowledge and meaning, something that human has created and learned in a
society. His theory defines culture in descriptive terms as the "complex whole" that makes up social ideas
and institutions.
In Tylor's view, culture includes all aspects of human activity, from the fine arts to popular
entertainment, from everyday behavior to the development of sophisticated technology. It contains the
plan, rules, techniques, designs and policies for living.
On the other hand, sociologists defined culture as the entire way of life followed by people, and
everything learned and shared by people in society. (Hunt, et. al, 1994). According to Landis (1992), culture
is a complex set of learned and shared beliefs, customs, skills, habits, traditions, and knowledge common
to members of society.
The Influence of Culture in Moral Development

Culture has been with us since the dawn of human existence. Significant as it is, a culture
considerably shapes its members on how they live and relate within themselves and with other cultures
(Bretzke, 2004).
Culture is a social environment in which a person is born and wherein he or she lives together with
other persons. Hence, culture has a great impact in the development of the human person in varied ways,
may it be in physical, knowledge, thought, relationship, religious or moral development.
Moreover, culture is a person's social heritage that has been passed from one generation to the next
basically through the relationship that binds the society together. It necessarily says on what are the things
a member of the society must do, what to do and how to do things. It teaches and conditions members on
how to relate and live with the other members of the society and even to people outside of their own
culture.
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At its fundamentals, culture has important characteristics. As I would emphasize, culture is rooted
from the collective "human experience". Culture is always transmitted, shared or acquired through
learning. Culture satisfies human needs as a social being. And culture tends towards the participation of
the members of the society.
Therefore, culture functions to mold and establish a social identity that brings people as well to the
knowledge of common objectives which members would try to achieve. Culture, indeed, provides norms,
customs, laws, and moral demands that are to be followed. So to speak, in general, in a culture there is
consistency and systematic patterns of behavior (Palispis, 2007).
In general, culture plays a vital role the development of the human person. In every aspect of the
human person, the cultural background can be very visible. In particular, culture has an essential influence
on the moral development of the human person since morality is just one of the cultural aspects.
Culture would tell, as I have mentioned above, the members on what to do, how to do things and
what are the things that should be done as well as those things that should be avoided. So to speak, culture
imprints the existing moral principles into its members, thus, shapes the character of its members as well.
Indeed, this is a process from infancy to adulthood, eOectively presented by Kohlberg in his theory on the
stages of moral development.
At this point let us particularize how culture influences the moral development of the people. The
points below are the following:
1. Culture is always social and communal by which the relationship of the people towards one
another and their experience as a people are the culture's meadow. It is in this relationship and communal
experience that culture influences the moral development of its members. It is important to note that
morality as principle is promoted because primarily of the relationship within the community. Laws and
rules and standards of attitudes and behaviors are set and promulgated by the community to promote that
relationship that binds them together as a people. And culture as it is being handed down from one
generation to another forms as well the morality of that particular generation. Yet, the kind of morality may
not be absolutely the same with the previous generation due to changes that would inevitable occur.
2. The culture defines the normative principles and behaviors of the society. It defines which
particular principle and behavior that should be kept that would serve the best interest of the community.
There would be a definition on what are the principles and behaviors also that should not be promoted or
rejected. This kind of influence of culture in moral development is best seen in terms of relational level.
Again, it is basic that it is in the relationship within the community and in their experience of that
relationship that the community would able to form certain normative principles and behaviors. These
defined normative principles and behaviors inform and indoctrinate the members as they live and relate
with the community. These would shape also the kind of moral judgment a person has, which is most of
the time congruent to the general moral judgment.
3. Moreover, a culture, as best exemplified in the experience of the people, develops restrictions
and sets boundaries and limitations as they live and relate with one another. These restrictions and
boundaries serve as protection among themselves. These would create an atmosphere of promoting the
welfare of the community. Indeed, anyone who tries to step beyond these is subject to punishment or
consequences set by the community embedded in the culture. Culture here draws this consciousness into
the moral development of its members.
4. As culture helps in generating the character and identity of its people, it also includes their moral
character. Culture conditions the mind - the way people think and the way they perceive the world and their
relationship with one another. Henceforth, a culture which characteristic is aggressive tends to be
aggressive in terms of its relationship with one another or with other cultures. Yet, the character that is
being shaped by a culture may not always be just and rightful. A culture like many others may shape a
character that is unjust and mistaken in the general perspective of human morality.
5. The culture identifies the authorities or the governing individuals or groups. They are the symbol
of guidance and control. In many cultures, men are always regarded as the leaders who oversee the order
of the community and give guidance, which is true in patriarchal societies. Through their roles and
responsibilities in the community within the given culture, may it be patriarchy, matriarchy or whatever;
people submit themselves to their authorities. By their very authority as they represent the general
populace, the members look at them as people who promote and keep the set of rules and laws that govern
the community. Their moral judgments are considered essential in moral issues of the community. In

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particular, in domestic level the parents of a child are the first authorities who set and teach the child
essential for the moral development of their child.
Evidently, culture is very significant in the development of the human person and in moral
development particularly. Furthermore, as one would look at it, culture has a tight grip on the moral
development of the people. Culture is the conditioning principle of the moral development of its members.
Nevertheless, culture as the principle that surrounds the moral development of the people may not always
promote what is good and just for all. It is certain that sometimes there are principles, attitudes and
behaviors that actually hinder good relationships and violate the welfare of the others. These are indeed
diOicult to eliminate immediately in a culture, yet, they should be subject to people's discernment that
proper changes and modifications have to be done for the sake of the welfare and justice for everybody.

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