How can the effects of a cultural practice on people within a society be used to evaluate it?

In the context of ethical relativism, critics often challenge the idea that moral codes are entirely subjective by proposing that we can evaluate cultural practices based on their tangible effects on the people within a society.1

Rather than relying solely on internal social standards, this approach suggests that we can objectively assess whether a specific practice works to the advantage or disadvantage of a culture's members. For example, if a practice—such as female genital mutilation—is found to cause more harm than good, that outcome can serve as an objective basis for judging the practice as negative, transcending local variations in moral codes.1

This perspective provides a potential standard for evaluation that exists outside of a society's own moral framework. By focusing on the welfare and security of individuals, it allows for a critical assessment of customs that might otherwise be shielded from scrutiny under a strict relativistic doctrine. This method distinguishes between evaluating the effectiveness of a culture as a means to secure life—such as its ability to combat disease or provide food—and the more complex, often subjective, task of making moral judgments about human dignity or happiness.12