Compare and contrast the terms ethnocentrism and cultural relativism.

Ethnocentrism and cultural relativism do not have much in
common.  Ethnocentric ideas tend to negate the possiblity of a belief in cultural
relativism.

Ethnocentrism is the idea that the way things
are done in our society is superior to any other way of doing things.  This sort of an
attitude is clearly incompatible with cultural relativism.  Cultural relativism holds
that nothing is right or wrong and that things only have whatever value is given to them
by a particular culture.  In such a view, the traditions of all cultures are equally
valid.

Ethnocentrism is a view that holds that one's own
society is better than all others.  This is completely opposed to the idea that all
cultures are equally valid.