Truth can be defined in many ways.

“Different cultures have different

truths” implies that each culture have different truths. Culture is the

characteristics of a particular social group or organization. Therefore,

different truths depend on different cultures. However, “a truth is that which

can be accepted universally,” which states that a truth can be acknowledge

by everyone. Thus, different truths depend on the different cultures, but

there are universal truths. Cultures have different truths because of their

ethics, which is influence by their perceptions. Universal truths exist in

natural science, which is supported by reason.

“Different cultures have different truths” restates the idea of cultural

relativism. Cultural relativism proposes that people of different cultures have

different upbringings and different experiences in life. Therefore, different

cultures have different ethics and perceptions. Marriages between cousins

were allowed in the monarchy of England. Many royals married their cousins.

The British royals practiced endogamy, which is the practice of marring

within a specific class and social group, because the monarchy did not allow

the royals to marry a commoner and to also influence the affairs of state.

Likewise during the war with France, William III tried to improve his position

by marrying Mary Stuart, his cousin and daughter of James, Duke of York and

eleven years his junior. In 1677, the first royal marriage of first cousins was

between King William III and Queen Mary II. It is estimated that 80 percent of

all marriages historically have been between first cousins. Marriages

between cousins were normal for any royal family because the royal family
did not want any common blood into the royal blood. Therefore, most princes

and/or princesses tend to marry their cousins the “royal” blood in the royal

family. Also, they marry their cousins to advance their place in the royal

family. A prince would marry his cousin so he can move higher up in the line

of succession. So for the British, marriages between cousins are completely

ethically acceptable. On the other hand, as of September 1st, 2005, the state

of Texas no longer accepts marriages between first cousins. Texas believes

that marrying your first cousin is incestuous. Incest is any sexual activity

between close relatives that is illegal. According to the National Society of

Genetic Counselors, birth defects are 2 to 3 percent more common in

children born to first cousins than among the general population. In

conclusion, Texans have a different truth than British. Texans believe that

marriages between first cousins are unacceptable. Hence, truth is not

universal and differs depending on culture.

However, “a truth is that which can be accepted universally” states

that truth is a statement or fact that will be accepted by humanity as a

whole, making it an absolute truth in nature. In natural science through

reason, there are universal truths. In the 4th century BC, Plato and Aristotle

stated that Earth was the center of the universe and the planets revolve

around Earth. For a very long time, scientists and regular citizens believed

the geocentric model theory. Even the Church believed it and executed the

non-believers. A universal truth is a truth that is widely accepted and is

accepted by everyone in the world. Because it was accepted by everyone, it

was a universal truth. For a very long time in science, people believed in the

geocentric model. For that reason, the geocentric model was the universal

truth at the time. Nonetheless, in 1514, Nicolaus Copernicus proposed the

heliocentric hypothesis. The heliocentric hypothesis affirmed the sun was in

the center of the universe and the planets revolve around the sun, not Earth

In 1610, Galileo invented the telescope and proved that the heliocentric

hypothesis is right. After Galileo, many other scientists proved the

heliocentric hypothesis. That brought everyone to believe that it was true

and accepted it. Since it was accepted by everyone, it was considered a

universal truth. As a result, the heliocentric theory is a universal truth.

Both statements provide different implications for knowledge. The first

allows for a more biased and personalized version of knowledge while the

second relies more on universal agreement. In conclusion, the implication for

knowledge is the understanding that cultural beliefs/truths do not necessarily

equal to universal truths and gives a further understanding of the ethical and

moral decisions which we undertake, despite our different cultural

upbringing.
 Works Cited

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"Cousin Marriage OK by Science | Wired Science | Wired.com." Wired News.

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<http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/12/cousinmarriage/>.

Motz, Lloyd, and Jefferson Hane Weaver. The Story of Astronomy. New York:
Basic Books, 2001.

"Procrastination » Marriage: Between Cousins." ZackVision. Web. 10 Nov.

2009. <http://www.zackvision.com/weblog/2003/03/cousin-marriage/>.

"Thoughts on Cousin-Marriage «." All About Muslim Marriages. Web. 10 Nov.

2009. <http://muslimmarriages.wordpress.com/2007/06/11/thoughts-on-
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