Introduction
Cultural relativism is an important concept in nursing and healthcare, as it recognizes that ethical and moral beliefs are relative to a particular culture and its values. This means that what one culture may view as right or wrong may not be the same as another.
Discussion
This concept has important implications for nursing, as it requires nurses to understand and respect the beliefs and values of their patients, even if they may not agree with them. However, there is a logical inconsistency in cultural relativism. It holds that there are no objective moral standards, yet it makes the claim that cultural relativism itself is objectively true. This creates a contradiction, as it cannot be the case that there are no objective moral standards and that cultural relativism is objectively true at the same time.
One of the main challenges for nurses when engaging in ethical and moral discussions is to avoid fallacies, which can undermine the credibility of the argument and the person making it. One such fallacy which also appeared in our textbook is ad hominem which is when someone attacks the character or personal traits of their opponent rather than addressing their argument (Rachels, 2002). An example of this would be saying, “You can’t trust what John says about healthcare because he’s just a nurse” (Rachels, 2002, p. 54). This type of argument is fallacious because it attacks the person, not the argument, and it distracts from the real issue, making it harder to find a solution.
Conclusion
As a nurse, it is important to ensure that arguments are valid and free from fallacies in order to effectively communicate with patients and peers. This can be achieved by focusing on the evidence and reasoning, rather than attacking the person making the argument. Additionally, it is important for nurses to understand and respect the beliefs and values of their patients, even if they may not agree with them, in order to provide culturally competent care.
References
Rachels, J. (2002). The Elements of Moral Philosophy (4th ed.). Mcgraw-Hill College.