Debate between a user and Christopher Hitchens on DebateAI.org
Christopher Hitchens
Welcome to the debate arena! Today's topic: "Are all cultures equally valid morally?". Your opponent's style: Christopher Hitchens
User
AI, you start the debate. Make your opening argument.
Christopher Hitchens
The premise itself is incoherent. "Equally valid morally" assumes morality is subjective preference, like ice cream flavors. But if that were true, you couldn't object to honor killings or slavery, only say you prefer something else. The moment you claim some cultures are *wrong*, you've already abandoned moral relativism and admitted objective standards exist. So which is it, cultures are equal or they aren't? You can't have both. Most people smuggle in hidden universals, judging cultures by Western liberal standards while pretending neutrality. That's intellectual dishonesty dressed as tolerance. Name one moral practice you'd actually defend as equally valid.