Absolutism and Relativism
6 important questions on Absolutism and Relativism
What are absolutism and relativism?
What is absolutism about truth?
Whether a proposition is true or false does nor depend on standpoint.
What is relativism about truth?
propositions have different truth values from different standpoints.
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On what grounds would one endorse absolutism about rationality?
- To be rational is to reason in accord with the world.
- to be rational is to draw decisions that go with the flow with the world and not against.
- A style of reasoning intrinsically either is or is not in accord with the world
- Furthermore, since the world is unique, only one style of reasoning is rational.
What is relativism about rationality?
standpoint: an intellectual or cultural setting
Different styles of reasoning are on a par in their own settings.
Implications: non-uniqueness claim
- no single style of reasoning has a privileged relation with reality.
On what grounds would one endorse relativism about rationality? (attractiviness)
- 1. Evidence of plurality of reasoning styles.
- history of science (week 6)
- cultural psychology
- cultural anthropology
- Unwillingness to rank reasoning styles for validity.
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