Understanding other cultures without making judgments about
the way they do things or the way they understand and react
to things is the basic concept of cultural relativity. The
importance of this idea is demostrated by Richard B. Lee in
his story about the Christmas feast with the !Kung.
In this story Lee, a social anthropologist living with the
tribe, experiences a misunderstanding that almost caused him
to pack his belongings and leave the bushmen which were the
subject of his study.
The basis of the misunderstanding centered around the idea
that after a year of using his supplies to gain leverage Lee
would show his generousity by providing a large robust ox
for the Christmas feast. Generousity he expected, as a
westerner, to be greated by praise gratitude and general
appreciation. What he didn't realize was that praise was
not the way of the !Kung people.
For if you take an action in your own culture the reaction
is generally predictable, but if......
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