Argument Identification Drill Passage #2

[Imcuffy]

Hello,

I am having a little trouble understanding why answer "D" is the correct answer. I choose "B" because it appears that the critics to the cultural relativist began with this objection to the previous statement of the cultural relativist.

Could you please explain why "D" is the correct answer and not "B"?

Thanks

[KelseyWoods]

Hi Imcuffy!

The statement "no culture contains a wholly separate set of values" doesn't "merely introduce" the critics' objection--it is the critics' objection! The statement that "merely introduces" their objection would be the first part of that sentence, "As the critics of the cultural relativists noted..." Note that "merely" is a strong and important word here. It has basically the same meaning as "only." It indicates that the line only introduces their objection and does nothing more than that. It's tough to prove strong statements like that and, in this case, the statement being asked about is a key part of their objection and not just an introduction to it.

Answer choice (D), on the other hand, says that the statement "is offered to call into question the claim that the concept of rights is a form of Western cultural imperialism." This is exactly what the claim does. It is part of the critics' objection to the view of the cultural relativists who argued that the concept of human rights was a form of cultural imperialism. If no culture contains a wholly separate set of values, then a concept derived from the values of one culture would not constitute cultural imperialism, because other cultures may have similar values as well.

Hope this helps!

Best,
Kelsey