Among the main tasks of Cultural Studies is to EXPLAIN human beliefs and behaviour.

Among the main tasks of Cultural Studies is to EXPLAIN human beliefs and behaviour. This is essentially a "scientific" project. Just as chemistry identifies natural elements and explains chemical reactions. and just as physics identifies natural objects and explains physical reactions. so also cultures determine and explain social structures. ideas. and human actions – everything we think. say. and do. First. I want you to consider the following: Chemical elements. however. are not conscious entities. Hydrogen and oxygen atoms have no choice when they combine to form water. Likewise. falling objects have no choice when they descend at predictable rates of speed according to the law of gravity. Human beings. however. do make {or appear to make} choices. At the same time. we know that people’s attitudes and actions exist within specific cultures and that what we think. say. and do is largely determined by the time and place in which we are born. 80. please state and justify your opinion on the following proposition: Since individual human beings learn mainly what their cultures tell them is true. and since people behave in the ways they are taught to behave. and we are all products of our social environment. SHOULD PEOPLE BE HELD MORALLY ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT THEY DO OR SHOULD SOCIETY BEAR THE MORAL BURDEN WHEN PEOPLE ACT BADLY’?