impossible task. Therefore we should not criticize other societies since their view does seem logical. We just have to accept the difference of opinions. Then Benedict goes on to show further examples of unique customs around the world that deal with the matter of morality.
             She describes a certain tribe called the Kwatiutl where the death of one, no matter what the cause, was "...an affront to be wiped out by the death of another person." If a man's father died of illness, like Tuberculosis, the son would go and kill any innocent man, women, or child just to make up for his loss. What's interesting is that such an act would make the son feel good, which we would consider as very abnormal in our society. In addition, Mary Midgley describes a peculiar Samurai custom called Trying Out One's New Sword, which is also the title of her piece. A samurai sword, to ensure that it was ready for battle, had to be tested on a 'wayfarer' by slicing through him "...from the shoulder to the opposite flank" with one blow. This would cause instant death to the wayfarer, but this supposedly was an honorable death. We, based on the moral standards of our society, would probably deem this as an act of murder and would never allow such a ritual. But in this Japanese society it is a perfectly legal and moral custom. And among different cultures around the world we can find plenty more examples. For instance the Eskimo society, where polygamy is the tradition, and infanticide is another common practice; and of course there is the famous story of Darius, a king of ancient Persia, as written by Herodotus in his History. All in all these examples show that differences in moral beliefs certainly exist.
             To continue, Ruth Benedict then compares the theory of morality to the concept of language. Specific languages take centuries to develop through the selection and standardization of a precise few, from an infinite amount of, "possible phon...